The Egyptians wore amulets alongside other pieces of jewellery. They were decorative, but also served a practical purpose, being considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. Many of the amulets have been found inside wrappings of mummified bodies, as they were used to prepare the deceased for the afterlife.
According to mythology, the Four Sons of Horus each were attributed a different organ to protect. For Imsety, the liver; for Duamutef, the stomach; for Hapi, the lungs; and for Qebehsenuef, the intestines. They exhibit a variety of depictions in Egyptian art, but are most known for the canopic jars which held the protected organs, atop which a head of each son featured. They feature heavily in funerary art, including on sarcophogi and cartonnage, from the First Intermediate Period onwards.
To discover more about Ancient Egyptian amulets and gods, please visit our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings: Ancient Egyptian Gods
