ANCIENT EGYPT. AGATE HEART AMULET . NEW KINGDOM. 1250 B.C

 

In ancient Egyptian belief, the heart was the seat of intellect, memory, and moral judgment, not the brain. During the "Weighing of the Heart" in the afterlife, the heart was measured against the feather of Ma’at to determine the worthiness of the soul. Amulets such as this one were intended to keep the heart pure and truthful, ensuring safe passage and resurrection.

 

Stone was deliberately chosen over faience in select cases like this—agate and chalcedony were believed to offer both protective and energizing properties, and their earthy colors reflected solar vitality, making them ideal for such a personal and spiritually charged object.