Egypt is a mysterious land rich in antiquities, mummies, temples, palaces and pyramids. Visitors to modern museums can only see fragments of the culture of this once majestic country. Among tourists and modern pagans, amulets depicting Egyptian symbols are especially popular. But not every buyer and even seller thinks about the true meaning of these symbols.
The oldest and most revered Egyptian symbols are the Was, Wadget and Ankh. They are based on even earlier fetishes of the pre-dynastic period. Other quite ancient Egyptian symbols are Scarab, Winged Disc, Feather of Maat.
Wadget is the eye of Horus. The right eye of this ancient Egyptian deity symbolized the sun, and the left - the moon. Only the left eye is considered a widget, as according to legend, Horus lost him in a fight with his uncle Seth. The eye, healed by the goddess Hathor (according to another version of Thoth), helped Horus to resurrect his father Osiris. He symbolized the will, strength, courage and harmony with the outside world. The Egyptians were very kind to the Eye, this symbol was worn by people from different walks of life.
Ankh, or Ankh - the Egyptian cross with a loop, personifying infinite vitality, eternal life outside of time and space. Other interpretations of the ankh are the union of Osiris and Isis, the sunrise. Thus, the Egyptian cross could have different meanings, depending on the interpretation, it could act as a symbol of family, love and fertility, could mean health and longevity, or the afterlife.
Was - a scepter consisting of a stick that goes down to a fork and ends with a head in the shape of a jackal's head. This is a traditional symbol of the gods and kings of ancient Egypt, having only one meaning - power.
Scarab - the sacred beetle of the ancient Egyptians. The scarab lays its eggs in the dung and rolls the dung ball from east to west until offspring are born, therefore, in Egyptian symbolism, it means the movement of the sun in the sky, and is also a symbol of new life.
Winged Disc - according to the legend of Horus, this image was taken in the battle against Seth. In the center, Horus himself, the wings symbolize his mother, the goddess Isis, and the snakes - Upper and Lower Egypt. This sign is a symbol of balance and balance.
Feather of Maat - feather of an ostrich, decoration of the head of Maat - goddess of wisdom and justice. In ancient Egypt, it was considered a symbol of justice, reflected in representations of judgment in the afterlife. It was believed that when the soul of the deceased falls to the court of Osiris, the subject’s heart is placed on one bowl of the Great Libra, and the feather of Maat on the other. If the heart outweighed, then he was devoured by the monster Amat - a hybrid of a hippo, a lion and a crocodile.
