An amulet is an object that is either worn (usually as jewelry) , carried (perhaps as a weapon) , or put at a certain place with a ritual significance (such as a specific place within a home , or near a crop field) . It was believed that it has magico-religious powers . Examples of such powers would include: the ability to protect against a specific type of danger , the ability to cure disease , or the ability to give preternatural strength to the wearer .
Amulets started out in prehistory as found objects that seemed to be of special quality . Examples included animal parts (such as a tooth , an ear , a tail , or a foot) taken from a particular animal thought to have certain desirable traits associated with the purpose of the amulets . They could also be plants , herbs , or a mixture of herbs in a bag , tied or otherwise secured in place on a specific body part . Amulets could also come from the mineral world , as a stone of a particular shape or quality . Meteoric bits which are often magnetic , stones with natural holes in them , geodes , and crystals were all viewed as especially powerful .
An amulet was basically a charm , often inscribed with a spell , magic incantation or symbol that protects the wearer against evil or provides aid and magical benefits . Amulets can aid or provide healing , luck or protection or even act as a double or replacement for an organ or limb . There were several Ancient Egyptian words for amulets , most notably 'Sa' and 'Wedjau' , which were associated with protection , well-being , and prosperity .
A large variety of amulets were placed on the body and scattered among the wrappings to ensure the safety of the body and any easy passage into the Afterlife . Several of the spells in the Book of the Dead were intended to be spoken over specific amulets , which were then placed in particular places on the body of the deceased . A list of important funerary amulets from Ancient Egypt actually appears in the MacGregor papyrus . Both royal and non-royal individuals included amulets in their mummy bandages . King Tutankhamun had over 140 amulets scattered through his wrappings . The Book of the Dead specifically mentions certain amulets that have magical obligations to the deceased , notably the headrest and Wadj Pillar , which should be included with the mummy .
An amulet's power comes from its shape , material , and color . Green and blue stones , glass or faience signified resurrection and rebirth; hematite was used for amulets providing strength and support; carnelian , jasper , red glass or red faience were used for any amulet that symbolized blood , energy , strength , power and solar force .
Although funerary amulets were important throughout Egyptian history , the type and number of amulets used changed over time . However , there were certain amulets that were fairly standard throughout the history of Egypt .
Perhaps the best known Ancient Egyptian amulet is the Wedjat (or the 'Eye of Horus') . This amulet was supposed to represent the eye of god Horus or of god Re and protected the wearer against all evils by taking on the power of the god . Amulets representing the eye are found all over the body , interspersed with the wrappings .