Heart scarab
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The heart scarab is an oval
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The amulets are described in the Book of the Dead to be made (per Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt)[3] of a stone: nmhf, nemehef (not now identified); typically green stones, green jasper, serpentine, and basalt. Andrews continues to say they are in fact made from: green or dark-green materials, such as glazed steatite, schist, feldspar, hematite and obsidian; also blue-glazed composition (faience), Egyptian blue, rock crystal, alabaster or red jasper. Instead of the head of a scarab, heart scarabs had the head of a human and were often inscribed with chapter 30B of the Book of Going Forth by Day. Heart scarabs were also used in the design of pectorals, which were a rectangular chest ornament.[4]
The alternate heart amulet itself represents similar ideas, but is made in the form of the heart as used by the Egyptian-language hieroglyph.
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Heart scarabs throughout Egyptian history
The first known depiction of the heart amulet is found in the 16th or 17th Dynasty circa 1690 B.C. [5], although it is known that the amulet was in use as early as the 11th Dynasty. Until the beginning of the 18th Dynasty, the heart scarab had a strong connection to Theban royalty. During the 21st Dynasty, it stood as an important item of magical protection among the priesthood of Amun. After the 21st Dynasty, the amulet is rarely depicted in human contexts and is instead associated with specific divinities.[6]
Heart scarabs went through significant modifications in their design over the course of history. For example, during the New Kingdom, heart scarabs were large, typically between four and five centimeters long. [2] Then, in the Third Intermediate Period, a new variation of the heart scarab emerged. This new scarab was much smaller, at about two to four centimeters long.[2] Due to their smaller size, these heart scarabs were not engraved. Unlike other heart scarabs that were placed directly above a person's heart and wrapped into their bandages, these new variations of heart scarabs were actually placed inside the person's chest cavity, alongside their true heart.[2]
Ancient Egyptian amulets
Besides the personal use of the amulet in life, the body was often provided with amulets in burial, with more amulets implying more protection. The most common funerary amulets were the heart scarab,
). Amulet usage changed greatly over the millenniums of ancient Egypt.The papyrus stem,
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or Wadj amulet was made from 'green feldspar' as prescribed in Chapter 160, Chapter 159 from the Book of the Dead.[7] The most common explanation for the amulet is that it provided 'eternal youth' to the deceased.
Gallery
Heart scarab, multiple types
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Heart Scarab, inscribed with Chapter 30, Book of the Dead
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Paserpylon pendant, with heart scarab motif
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The Heart Scarab of Hatnefer, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Heart amulet
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Egyptian amulet examples:
Heart amulet, (row 6)
See also
- Egyptian hieroglyphs
- Scarab (artifact)
- Papyrus stem amulet
- Stair-single (hieroglyph)
- List of ancient Egyptian statuary with amulet necklaces
References
- ^ a b Andrews, Carol (2007). "Amulets" In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press.
- ^ JSTOR 26388759.
- ^ Andrews, 1994. Amulets of Ancient Egypt, chapter 4: Scarabs for the living and funerary scarabs, pp 50–59, (p. 56).
- ^ Bianchi, Robert (2001). "Scarabs" In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egyptian Art. Oxford University Press.
- ^ heart-scarab | British Museum
- JSTOR 27801606.
- ^ Nefer, Djed. "~~Ancient Egyptian Religion~~Egyptology Page: Book of Thoth~~Updated: 5.26.09~~". egyptologypage.tripod.com. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
- Andrews, 1994. Amulets of Ancient Egypt, chapter 4: Scarabs for the living and funerary scarabs, pp 50–59, Andrews, Carol, c 1993, University of Texas Press, 518 amulets, 1, or multiples included in 12 necklaces; (softcover, ISBN 0-292-70464-X)
- Budge, 1978, (1920). An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, ISBN 0-486-23615-3)
External links
- Heart scarab, Israel Museum
- Amulets of Egypt & history of Mummification, Egypt; amulets: Foot amulet & Hand amulet
- Heart amulet, amulet and explanation