Menat
Ancient Egyptian necklace
In ancient Egyptian religion, a menat (Ancient Egyptian: mnj.t (๐ ๐๐๐๐ง), Arabic: ู ูุงุช) was a necklace closely associated with the goddess Hathor.
01Operation
The menat was held in the hand by its counterpoise and used as a rattle by Hathor's priestesses. It was also worn as a protective amulet, particularly by Apis bulls.
02Parts
The menat typically included an aegis attached to beaded strings. The other ends of the strings were tied to a counterweight that dangled on the wearer's back. The aegis was often made of faience, but other materials such as leather and bronze were also used. It was often inscribed or bore depictions of deities associated with Hathor.
03Purpose
The necklace was meant to ensure good luck and fortune and to protect against evil spirits. It was also worn for protection in the afterlife and is often found buried with the dead, given as a grave gift since Ramesside times. It was expected to foster fruitfulness and good health for women, and for men it signified virility.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article โMenatโ, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Menat necklace from Malqata MET DT234778.jpg by Unknown author, CC0
- Dendera Krypta 12.JPG by Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0
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