Heart Amulet

Carnelian amulet made roughly in the shape of the heart-shaped hieroglyph but without lug handles (could actually be a drop-shaped bead pendant). There is a pierced suspension loop at the top. Heart-shaped amulets were believed to protect the wearer's heart from both physical and spiritual harm both in life and after death. Spell 29b in the Book of the Dead states that such amulets should ideally be carved from the red-coloured stone carnelian. In the ancient Egyptian language the word heart (ib) appears in the expression for a close friend, “one who has entered the heart” (ak-ib).