Amulets of Ancient Egypt - Brossura

Andrews, Carol

Brossura

ISBN 10: 029270464X ISBN 13: 9780292704640

Casa editrice: Univ of Texas Pr, 1994

Riassunto

"This handy reference work covers everything most of us could ever want to know about the subject of ancient Egyptian daily-life and after-life charms, and should be on the shelf of every good personal library devoted to topics Egyptological."

?KMT

Amulets are ornaments believed to endow the wearer by magical means with the properties they represent. They were first made in Egypt as early as 4000 BC and were essential adornments for both the living and the dead. Crafted from gold and silver, semiprecious stones, and less valuable materials, they are fine examples of Egyptian art as well as a vital source of evidence for religious beliefs.

In this book, Carol Andrews offers the first comprehensive account of the types of amulets made, their symbolism, and their protective powers. An amuletic foot could be worn to ensure fleetness of foot, a hand for dexterity. The desert-dwelling hare symbolized keenness of the senses, and the hedgehog, which hibernated and survived outside the fertile valley, held connotations of rebirth and triumph over death itself. The ubiquitous amulet in the shape of the dung beetle, known as a scarab, was symbolic of new life. Amulets in the image of powerful gods would be worn for protection, and malevolent creatures, like the male hippopotamus, would be worn to ward off the evil they represented.

Both a reference book and an informative account of Egyptian magical belief, this is the most complete survey of the subject to date.

Su questo libro

L'autore:

Carol Andrews is a curator in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities, British Museum.

Product Description:

Book by Andrews Carol

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Univ of Texas Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 1994
• ISBN 10: 029270464X
• ISBN 13: 9780292704640
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 112