Egyptian talismans were objects believed to hold magical powers and provide protection to their owners. These talismans played a significant role in ancient Egyptian culture and religion. One of the most famous Egyptian talismans is the Eye of Horus, also known as the Wedjat Eye. This symbol represented healing, protection, and restoration. It was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits and protect against harm. The Eye of Horus was commonly worn as an amulet or used in various forms of artwork and architecture.

The Magic Amulets of Ancient Egyptian Mummies For Eternal Life

Ancient Egypt was famous for its occult practices, particularly in the use of magic amulets. These talismans were believed to summon the aid of the gods in the afterlife.

Amulet of the Buckle of the girdle of Isis , 1250-1100 BC (left); with Amulet of Life, “Ankh,” 1400-1390 BC (center); and Egyptian Mummy Pypy-lw , 664-525 BC, in the Derby Museum, via Manchester University (right)

Four thousand years ago, the civilization spanning the length of the Nile, from Nubia to Memphis and across the fertile delta to the Mediterranean Sea, was already ancient and highly sophisticated. So revered for its advancements in almost every discipline of the day, early Greeks believed that all knowledge emanated from Egypt.

But it’s the Egyptian religion, and particularly its occult aspects, that really took hold of the imagination of ancient observers, because, unlike contemporaries in the east, Egyptians sought to enlist their gods in the service of man. They did so by means of incantations and the use of magic amulets, or talismans, imbued with supernatural powers.

The Eye of Horus was commonly worn as an amulet or used in various forms of artwork and architecture. Another popular talisman was the Ankh, also known as the Key of Life. This symbol was associated with eternal life and was believed to possess magical powers.

Magic Amulets In Egypt

Substance, color, and shape were all relevant features of an Egyptian amulet. And in such a landscape it’s no surprise: ancient Egypt was brimming with precious gemstones and metallic elements. They’d become experts at fusing these to make alloys, or “ khemeia ,” which were believed to inherently possess magic powers. In later times, after the demise of the Pharaohs followed by the Ptolemies and then the Romans , Arab conquerors in Egypt would add “Al” to the ancient word for alloy. “Al-Khemeia” eventually made its way into the English language as Alchemy.

Over the course of the millennia, the practice of wearing magic amulets came to be more associated with the dead. During mummification, priests would invoke the gods through these talismans to provide assistance to the deceased in the afterlife. And though the Egyptian pantheon was crowded, for the purposes of a discussion on afterlife rituals the core three deities were Osiris, god of the Underworld, his wife, Isis, and their son, Horus.

Statuette of Isis nursing Horus , 332-30 BC, via The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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Drawing on instructions from the Egyptian Book of the Dead , priests ritually called on this divine family to do the bidding of the deceased in their care. Below is a list of ten magic amulets that were commonly used in this cause.

The Ankh was often depicted being held by Egyptian gods and used in rituals and ceremonies. Scarab beetles were also considered powerful talismans in ancient Egypt. These beetles were associated with the god Khepri, who was believed to roll the sun across the sky each day. Scarab amulets were frequently used in funerary practices and were believed to provide protection in the afterlife. In addition to these well-known talismans, other objects such as amulets shaped like animals, stars, and plants were also used for their protective properties. These amulets were often made from materials such as faience, a type of glazed ceramic, or precious metals like gold or silver. The belief in the power of Egyptian talismans continued for thousands of years and influenced the development of magic and amulet traditions in other cultures. Today, replicas of these ancient talismans can be found in museums and are often sought after by collectors and enthusiasts interested in ancient Egyptian culture and symbolism..

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Unlocking the magic of Egyptian talismans