Talisman and Amulets - Worn by the Living and
the Dead
Talisman and Amulets are one of the oldest forms
of magic and were worn or carried by both rich
and poor ancient Egyptians. Talisman and Amulets
played an important role in the design of
ancient Egyptian jewelry and examples can be
seen on items can be seen on rings, pendants and
necklaces. But in ancient Egypt Talisman and
Amulets were not just viewed as a piece of
jewelry to adorn the living they were also used
to adorn the dead.
Talisman and Amulets
Each of the Talisman and Amulets in ancient
Egypt had a specific meaning and symbolic
significance. The potency of amulets and
talismans was recognised in the religious
ceremonies and rituals especially those relating
to funerary and mortuary rites. In ancient Egypt
Talisman and Amulets were than just 'lucky
charms'. They were both were believed to have
supernatural, magical powers of protection and
used to avert danger and to dispel evil and
because of their important similarities the
words 'Talisman' and 'Amulet' are interchangeable.
Definition: A Talisman or an amulet can be described
as a religious object consisting of a stone or other
small item, often inscribed or carved with magical
inscriptions, magic signs, magic symbols, formula or
sacred text.
There are two types of talisman
and amulets - those that have
inscriptions and those that do
not
A Talisman or an amulet could be
carried or worn
Talisman or amulet jewelry would
collected throughout life of an
ancient Egyptian and then buried
with the deceased for protection
in the Underworld (Duat) and the
Afterlife.
Talisman or amulet jewelry was
occasionally fashioned in the
image of a deity such as the
dwarf god Bes
The word 'talisman' is derived
from the Greek word "telesma"
which means "to initiate into
the mysteries". The word
'amulet' is derived from the
Greek word "apotropaios" meaning
to avert or remove.
Ancient Egyptian Magic -
The Magical Powers of the Talisman and Amulets
Each talisman and amulet had a specific magical
meaning and religious significance ascribed to
it. The talisman or amulet was ascribed with
magical powers when ancient Egyptian priests
performed religious ceremonies and magical
rituals that were focused on the objects and
said sacred prayers over them. These actions
would attribute the talisman or amulet with
protective powers and other attributes such as
the magical power of healing and magic to ward
off evil. In early Egyptian history only the
pharaoh and royal family would have close access
to the priests. Blue colored stones, such as
turquoise and lapis lazuli, were symbols of
royalty. As time passed high ranking courtiers
and officials acquired the status to also employ
the priest to pass the magic on to their amulets
and talismans.
Ancient Egyptian Magic -
Inscriptions on the Talisman and Amulets
Clearly the ordinary ancient Egyptians did not
have easy access to priests, so to compensate
for this they wore jewelry that had magical
words, inscriptions or prayers cut into them.
Occasionally the amulet of talisman was made in
the image of a deity, such as the dwarf god Bes.
Others possessed the attributes that were
related to a specific god or goddess. The eye
was generally associated with with Horus or the
Knot of Isis that was usually made with a stone
of jasper.
Talisman and Amulets made from Faience
Faience was a glass-like material, first made in
predynastic Egypt, and used to make coloured
beads and small inlays in Ancient Egyptian
jewellery. In ancient Egypt faience was known as
tjehnet a word related to those for the
properties of "shining," or "dazzling".
Faience was thought to glisten with a light that
was symbolic of life, rebirth and immortality.
The ancient Egyptians used faience not only to
make jewelry, amulets and talismans but also to
make fabulous vessels, furniture, ritual
equipment, tiles, ankhs, scepters and figurines.
The glass faience was easier to work with than
the harder gemstones and ancient Egyptian
artisans became so adept at crafting glass bead
versions of precious and semi-precious stones
that it was difficult to distinguish authentic
emeralds, pearls and tigers-eye from faience.

Types of
Ancient Egyptian
Talisman and Amulets
There were many different types of Talisman and
Amulets in ancient Egypt, each having a special
meaning, attribute and purpose. The most famous are
probably the ankh, the scarab and the eye. Other
types of ancient Egyptian Talisman and Amulets
were the Menat, the feather of Ma'at the single
plume and double plumes,
the nefer, the cartouche, the angles of Thoth,
the aper, the heart, the sa, the ladder, the
steps, the frog, the fish, the vulture and the
lotus. Pictures and images of all of these talisman and amulets
are shown in this article.
Ancient Egyptian Magic -
Talisman and Amulets
The
Magical Stones
used to create ancient Egyptian jewelry,
talismans and amulets included emeralds,
feldspar, peridots, gypsum crystals, carnelians,
amethysts, chalcedony, malachite, jasper, lapis
lazuli, tiger's eye, turquoise and faience glass
stones. The magical stones used in the talismans
and amulets were believed to harness different
magical powers and the protection of various
Egyptian gods and goddesses.
Names and Pictures of
Egyptian
Talisman and Amulets
The Talisman and Amulets shown in the following
picture include the Ankh, the Menat, the single
and double plumes, the Nefer, Bes, the Angles of
Thoth and the Cartouche, or Name Amulet.
Talisman and Amulets
Key:
1, 2 & 3
-
The Ankh amulets
4
-
The Menat (also see 7)
5
-
The Double Plume
Feathers
6
-
Feather of Ma'at, the
single plume
7
-
The Menat (also see 4)
8, 9 & 10
-
The Nefer amulet
11
-
Bes, the dwarf god
talisman
12 & 13
-
The Angles of Thoth
amulets
14
-
The Aper amulet
15
-
The Cartouche, or Name
Amulet

Names and Pictures of
Egyptian
Talisman and Amulets
Discover fast, interesting fun facts about Talisman and Amulets for kids with some amazing, cool and quick
information about ancient Egypt and Egyptians.
Ideal for children, homework, schools, teachers
and kids of all ages! Find fascinating fun facts
about Talisman and Amulets for kids and the history, culture and
civilisation of the ancient Egyptians and ancient
Egypt.
Interesting, fun facts about Talisman and Amulets for research,
schools, students and kids of all ages.
Names and Pictures of
Egyptian
Talisman and Amulets
The Talisman and Amulets shown in the following
picture include the aper, the djed or the tet,
the heart, the buckle of Isis and the sa.
Talisman and Amulets
Key:
15
-
The Aper amulet
16, 17 & 18
- The
Djed amulets
19
-
The Aper amulet
20, 21 & 22
- The
Heart amulets
23
-
The Sa talisman
24, 25 & 26
-
The Tyet
aka the Buckle of the girdle of Isis

Names and Pictures of
Egyptian
Talisman and Amulets
The Talisman and Amulets shown in the following
picture include the scarab, the eye, the collar,
the ladder, the snake's head, the sma and the
steps amulet.
Talisman and Amulets
Key:
27 & 28
-
The Scarab amulets
29, 30 & 31
-
Papyrus Scepter talismans
32, 33 & 35
-
Eye Amulets
36 & 37
-
Collar Amulet
38
-
The Two Fingers
Talisman
39
-
The Ladder talisman
42
-
Snake Head talisman
43
-
The Sma talisman
40 & 41
-
The Steps amulets

Names and Pictures of
Egyptian
Talisman and Amulets
The Talisman and Amulets shown in the following
picture include the sun disk, the frog, the
crescent moon, the lotus, the fish, the vulture
and the Circle of Ouroboros (depicts a snake
eating its own tail).
Talisman and Amulets
Key:
43 & 45
-
Sun Disk talisman
44
-
The Frog talisman
45
-
Sun Disk talisman with ram's head
46
-
Pillow
Amulet
47 & 48
-
The Lotus talisman
49 & 50
-
The Fish talisman
51
-
Vulture talisman
52
-
The
Circle of Ouroboros

Talisman and Amulets
Learning about the ancient Egyptians and Talisman and Amulets inspires everyone to visit historical sites and undertake Egypt Travel and Tours to
experience the wonders of this magical land at first
hand. Many people choose to experience a tour of Egypt
on a Nile Cruise stopping at the famous destinations and
sites of Egypt such as the Pyramids of Giza and the
Great Sphinx. The information and facts about Talisman and Amulets will
provide you with a great insight into Egypt and the legacy
of the ancient Egyptians.
Talisman and Amulets |