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Ancient Egypt · c. 3100 BCE – 400 CE

Djed, tyet, ankh & hieroglyph signs

Meaning

Each is a hieroglyph worn as a word of power. The djed pillar means stability and is Osiris's backbone. The tyet or Isis knot means the protective power (and blood) of Isis. The ankh means life. Nefer means goodness and beauty. The shen ring means eternity and encircling protection, the was sceptre dominion, and the sema sign the union of the Two Lands.

Intent

Egyptians believed that the written sign made its meaning real. Wearing a djed gave stability and resurrection, as Osiris rose. A tyet of red jasper, as Book of the Dead chapter 156 prescribes, placed the wearer under Isis's protection. The ankh gave life to the living and the dead. They were strung together on collars or laid in fixed places on the mummy.

Significance

These amulets show Egyptian writing working as magic. The script was never only for recording speech; the signs themselves were potent. The ankh in particular became one of the world's most recognised symbols, adopted by Coptic Christians as the crux ansata and in modern times by many subcultures.

History

Sign amulets are known from the Old Kingdom and multiply in the New Kingdom, when the Book of the Dead specified materials: blue or gold for the djed, red for the tyet. They were mass-produced in faience in the Late and Ptolemaic periods, and the ankh passed into Coptic Christian art in the 4th century CE.

Making yours
2–6 cm, flat-backed. The djed is often blue faience, the tyet traditionally red jasper or carnelian, as spell 156 prescribes. Mould with a suspension loop at the top.
Ancient Egypt: the tradition

Amulets appear in Egyptian graves before writing, in the Badarian and Naqada cultures of the fifth and fourth millennia BCE, as shells, stones and simple animal shapes. With the Old Kingdom the repertoire grew into a systematic vocabulary of hieroglyph signs, gods and animals, and by the New Kingdom the Book of the Dead prescribed which amulet went where on the mummy. Mass production in faience from open moulds put them within reach of almost everyone. The Late and Ptolemaic periods (664–30 BCE) are the peak of variety, when a single mummy might carry dozens. The tradition outlived the pharaohs, feeding Graeco-Roman magical gems, Coptic Christianity and, through Phoenician traders, the whole Mediterranean. Flinders Petrie's 1914 catalogue counted 275 types.

See all 321, save the ones that feel rightAsk about having one made
Pair of Djed-Pillar AmuletsPair of Djed-Pillar AmuletsEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 30–Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 BCE) · 380–30 BCEAmulet of a Djed ColumnAmulet of a Djed ColumnEgypt · Late Period, Dynasties 26–31 (664–332 BCE)Djed pillar amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late PeriodDjed pillar amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late PeriodEgypt · 664 BC - 332 BCDjed-PillarDjed-PillarEgyptian late period · between 664 and 332 BC (Late Period)Djed PillarDjed PillarGreco-Roman Egypt · 6 th century BC date QS:P571,-550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Late Period)Djed PillarDjed PillarEgyptian New Kingdom · between 1500 and 1000 BC date QS:P571,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1000-00-00T00:00:00Z/Shen (Protection) Motto ClaspShen (Protection) Motto ClaspEgyptian 15th dynasty · circa 1648 date QS:P571,+1648-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1540 B.C. Period: Second Intermediate Period Dynasty: DyJewelry element in the form of a djed pillarJewelry element in the form of a djed pillarEgyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1878 date QS:P571,+1878-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1805 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, laAmulet depicting the sema knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the sema knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the sema knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo sema"Amulet depicting the sema knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the sema knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the sema knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo sema"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatDjed Pillar AmuletDjed Pillar AmuletEgyptian 21st dynasty · circa 1070 date QS:P571,+1070-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –945 B.C. Period: Third Intermediate Period Dynasty: DynaAmulet depicting the djed pillar title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the djed pillar " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the djed pillar " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il pilastro djed"Amulet depicting the djed pillar title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the djed pillar " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the djed pillar " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il pilastro djed"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatGD-FR-LouvreEG104GD-FR-LouvreEG104Egyptian Middle Kingdom · Middle Kingdom of Egypt era QS:P2348,Q191324Amulet: Djed ColumnAmulet: Djed Column664–332 B.C. Period: Late Period Dynasty: Dynasty 26–29Design amulet, Cow and Calf on the Back, Device showing Antithetical Falcons Flanking an Ankh Sign over a Crouching LionDesign amulet, Cow and Calf on the Back, Device showing Antithetical Falcons Flanking an Ankh Sign over a Crouching LionEgyptian 8th dynasty · circa 2150 date QS:P571,+2150-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2100 B.C. Period: First Intermediate Period Dynasty: DynFragment of Amulet with Nefer signFragment of Amulet with Nefer signPalace of Amenhotep III · circa 1390 date QS:P571,+1390-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1353 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18 Reign:Tit-Amulett des AwetesTit-Amulett des AwetesEgyptJewellery, feather amulet, fjäderamulett amulet from EgyptJewellery, feather amulet, fjäderamulett amulet from EgyptEgyptamulet ; godamulet ; godEgyptAmulette Ânkh-Djed-Ouas (British Museum, EA 54412)Amulette Ânkh-Djed-Ouas (British Museum, EA 54412)Egyptian 25th dynastyAnkhMirror-TutTombAnkhMirror-TutTombTutankhamunM0016456: Two Egyptian amulets shaped as the Sema symbol of unityM0016456: Two Egyptian amulets shaped as the Sema symbol of unityPair of Djed-Pillar AmuletsPair of Djed-Pillar AmuletsEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 30–Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 BCE) · 380–30 BCEDjed-Pillar AmuletDjed-Pillar AmuletEgypt · Ptolemaic Period (332–30 BCE)Djed pillar amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late or Ptolemaic PeriodDjed pillar amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late or Ptolemaic PeriodEgypt · 664 BC - 30 BCAmulet pendant, djed signAmulet pendant, djed signGreco-Roman EgyptShen (Protection) Motto ClaspShen (Protection) Motto ClaspEgyptian 15th dynasty · circa 1648 date QS:P571,+1648-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1540 B.C. Period: Second Intermediate Period Dynasty: DyAmulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"between 1540 and 1076 BC date QS:P,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1540-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1076-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 EDjed Pillar AmuletDjed Pillar AmuletEgyptian 21st dynasty · circa 1070 date QS:P571,+1070-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –945 B.C. Period: Third Intermediate Period Dynasty: DynaArte egizia, amuleto col pilastro djed in lapislazzuli, datazione imprecisabile (fi, museo egizio)Arte egizia, amuleto col pilastro djed in lapislazzuli, datazione imprecisabile (fi, museo egizio)Broad collar of Nefer AmuletsBroad collar of Nefer AmuletsDjed pillar, jewellery, djed-pelare amulet from EgyptDjed pillar, jewellery, djed-pelare amulet from EgyptEgyptTut-ankh-Amun funerary jewelry, gold with lapis lazuli, Thebes, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1336-1327 BCETut-ankh-Amun funerary jewelry, gold with lapis lazuli, Thebes, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1336-1327 BCETutankhamunDjed-PillarDjed-PillarEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 26 or later · 664–525 BCEAmulet of a Djed ColumnAmulet of a Djed ColumnEgypt · Late Period, Dynasties 26–31 (664–332 BCE)Djed pillar amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late PeriodDjed pillar amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late PeriodEgypt · 664 BC - 332 BCAmulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"between 1540 and 1076 BC date QS:P,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1540-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1076-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 ETit (Isis knot) from string of amuletsTit (Isis knot) from string of amuletsEgyptian 21st dynasty · circa 1070 date QS:P571,+1070-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –945 B.C. Period: Third Intermediate Period Dynasty: DynaReperti museo egizioReperti museo egizioJewellery, djed pillar, djed-pelare amulet from EgyptJewellery, djed pillar, djed-pelare amulet from EgyptEgyptTutankhamun Falcon1Tutankhamun Falcon1TutankhamunAmulet of a Djed ColumnAmulet of a Djed ColumnEgypt · Late Period, Dynasties 26–31 (664–332 BCE)Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatDjed Pillar AmuletDjed Pillar AmuletEgyptian 21st dynasty · circa 1070 date QS:P571,+1070-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –945 B.C. Period: Third Intermediate Period Dynasty: DynaDjed pillar, jewellery, djed-pelare amulet from EgyptDjed pillar, jewellery, djed-pelare amulet from EgyptEgyptTwo Ankh shaped Mirrors TutankhamunTwo Ankh shaped Mirrors TutankhamunTutankhamunAmulet of Djed ColumnAmulet of Djed ColumnEgypt · Late Period, Dynasties 26–31 (664–332 BCE)Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"between 1540 and 1076 BC date QS:P,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1540-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1076-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 EMany different kinds of symbols were used as amuletsMany different kinds of symbols were used as amuletsEgyptAnkh-Mirror-TutanchamunTombAnkh-Mirror-TutanchamunTombTutankhamunAmulet of a Djed ColumnAmulet of a Djed ColumnEgypt · Late Period, Dynasties 26–31 (664–332 BCE)Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatPeseshkef, jewellery amulet from EgyptPeseshkef, jewellery amulet from EgyptEgyptTutankhamun Ankh shaped mirror 2018Tutankhamun Ankh shaped mirror 2018TutankhamunTyet (Isis Knot) AmuletTyet (Isis Knot) AmuletEgypt · Late Period, Dynasty 26 (664–525 BCE)Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatJewellery, tyet amulet from EgyptJewellery, tyet amulet from EgyptEgyptAmulet of an AnkhAmulet of an AnkhEgypt · Third Intermediate Period–Late Period (1070–332 BCE)Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"Amulet depicting the tit knot title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the tit knot " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il nodo tit"between 1540 and 1076 BC date QS:P,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1540-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1076-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 EJewellery, wadj pillar, wadj-pelare amulet from EgyptJewellery, wadj pillar, wadj-pelare amulet from EgyptEgyptAmulet of a Djed PillarAmulet of a Djed PillarEgypt · Third Intermediate Period–Ptolemaic Period (11th–7th centuries BCE)

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Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.