For the Ancient Egyptians, amulets were not only decorative but also considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. Many amulets have been found inside the wrapping of mummies to ensure a safe journey into the afterlife, but amulets were also used by the living for protection or in order to have their wishes granted. Amulets, depending on their type or form, had different meanings, with small amulets depicting the gods, whether in a human or animal form, thought to have induced protective powers over the wearer.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, Shu was the primeval god of light and air, personifying the wind and the earth’s atmosphere. Created by Atum, and husband to Tefnut, he was father to Nut and Geb, grandfather to Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys, and great-grandfather to Horus and Anubis. Closely associated with the principle of life, he marked the separation between night and day, between the living and the dead. This kneeling pose, a common depiction of the god, embodied his role as the division between the different realms. It is believed that his children, Nut (the goddess of the sky) and Geb (the god of the Earth), were infatuated with each other. Shu intervened, and held Nut above his head to separate the pair: in doing so, he created the atmosphere and the conditions required for life. In amulets, such as with this fine example, Shu kneels with his arms raised to perform this exploit, holding a sun disk over his head, representing the sky.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings: Ancient Egyptian Gods
