Egyptian Faience Amulets- Shu
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Shu 2019-08-02
Name/Title
Egyptian Faience Amulets- ShuEntry/Object ID
03EG0883lxxviDescription
Faience amulet of Shu kneeling with his arms raised above his head. A square extension at the waist of the figure represents the left leg; the back of the amulet bears a loop hole and no other details.Use
ProtectionContext
Shu, among the earliest textually attested Egyptian deities, was the god of the sky, of the air, of the water and of sunlight and was therefore associated with life. His union with Tefnut, a goddess typically associated with moisture, produced the deities Geb, god of the earth, and Nut, goddess of the Sky. Though mythological narratives offer conflicting accounts of the reason underlying Shu's separation of his offspring, when he raised the heavens away from the Earth and filled the resulting void with air and light, it allowed for the initiation of the creative process. He was ascribed a role as a divinity who renewed the cosmos through his filling of it with air, considered by the Egyptians to be the breath of life. The amuletic form of Shu, which typically depicts the god as a kneeling man, may have served to confer strength and life upon the wearer. The Egyptians believed that misfortune and disease originated from malign spirits and the hostile dead. Maintaining health and prosperity was therefore achieved by providing protection against these forces. Amulets representing particular forces were worn around the neck for good luck and protection. They were also buried with the dead to ensure safe passage to the afterlife.Made/Created
Time Period
UnknownEthnography
Culture/Tribe
Egyptian