The Heart of Wisdom: Studies on the Heart Amulet in Ancient Egypt (BAR International)

The heart amulet is one of the most often depicted images in Egyptian art. Due to the scarcity of archaeological information available about the heart amulet, its artistic depictions represent an important and decisive source for the study of the meaning of these objects. We know that the amulet was already in use as early as the 11th Dynasty among the circle of Theban royalty. However, the first known depiction of the heart amulet only occurs at the beginning of the 18th Dynasty, in the Donation Stela, where the object is used by the young prince. This current study focuses on the significance and development of this iconic image. Introduction; 1) The depiction of the heart amulet in Egyptian art; 2) The typology of heart amulets; 3) Composite forms of heart amulets; 4) The ritual uses of heart amulets; 5) The cardiac amulets and dualism; 6) The "implicit theory" of the heart; 7) Documental corpus. Introduction -- The Depiction Of The Heart Amulet In Egyptian Art. The Heart Of Illumination -- The Heart Of Wisdom -- The Heart Of Justification -- The Heart Of Divine Birth -- General Implications Of The Meaning Of The Heart Amulets -- The Typology Of The Heart Amulets. The Pendulum Heart Amulets -- The Vase Heart Amulets -- The Cornice Heart Amulets -- Composite Forms Of The Heart Amulet. The Human-headed Heart Amulets -- The Animal-headed Heart Amulets -- The Flower Heart Amulets -- The Solar Heart Amulets -- The Ritual Uses Of The Heart Amulet. The Heart Amulet In Leonine Locks -- The Heart Amulet In The Weighing Of The Heart -- The Heart Amulet And The Journey Through The Duat: The Iconographical Reading Of The Papyrus Of Nesipautitaui (sr 1025) -- The Heart Amulet And Ritual: Some Clues From Iconography -- The Cardiac Amulets And Dualism. The Distinction Between The Heart Amulet And The Heart Scarab In Iconography -- Magical Purpose Of The Heart Scarab In The Book Of The Dead -- The Magical Purpose Of The Heart Amulet -- The Cardiac Amulets And The Cardiac Words (ib And Haty) -- The Symbolism Of Cardiac Amulets -- The Dualistic Nature Of The Heart -- The Implicit Theory Of The Heart. The Heart Amulet Of Illumination And The Mythic Cyle Of Horus -- The Heart Amulet Of Justification And The Mythic Cyle Of Osiris -- The Heart Amulet Of Divine Birth And The Mythic Cyle Of The Sun God -- The Heart Scarab And The Mummification -- Documental Corpus -- Illustrations -- Abbreviations -- Bibliography. Rogério Sousa. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 121-133). Front Cover Title Page Copyright Opening Quotation Dedication Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE THE DEPICTION OF THE HEART AMULET IN EGYPTIAN ART CHAPTER TWO THE TYPOLOGY OF THE HEART AMULETS CHAPTER THREE COMPOSITE FORMS OF THE HEART AMULET CHAPTER FOUR THE RITUAL USES OF THE HEART AMULET CHAPTER FIVE THE CARDIAC AMULETS AND DUALISM CONCLUSION THE “IMPLICIT THEORY” OF THE HEART DOCUMENTAL CORPUS ILLUSTRATIONS Abbreviations Bibliography