The Heart Amulet

Fact 1 :

The Heart was worn as a protective talisman by both the living and the deceased. The upper part of the amulet was sometimes made in the form of a human head (see above picture).
 

Fact 2 :

Meaning of the Heart: To the ancient Egyptians the Heart was believed to be the seat of the soul, and were worn to prevent black magicians from bewitching the soul out of the body.
 

Fact 3 :

The ancient Egyptians believed that if the soul left the heart, the body would quickly fade away and die.
 

Fact 4 :

Many heart amulets included the red carnelian stone that was a symbol of life and immortality. The carnelian was believed to possess magic healing properties and to protect the wearer from witchcraft. Other kinds of red stones were used including red jasper, red glass or paste and red porcelain.
 

Fact 5 :

On the Day of Judgement the feather of Ma'at was weighed against the spiritual heart of the deceased.
 

Fact 6 :

The spiritual heart was called the 'Ib' which was believed to be the source of good and evil. The physical heart was called the haty.
 

Fact 7 :

If the scales balanced, the deceased was allowed to go on to perfect existence in the  afterlife. If not, the 'Ib' was given to the hideous monster called Ammit, the Devourer of the Dead, to eat and the remaining parts of the soul were believed to become restless forever and "to die a second death".
 

Fact 8 :

The heart amulet, like the Djed talisman,  was placed at the neck of the deceased on the day of interment, to protect him on his perilous journey through the underworld.
 

Fact 9 :

A Talisman or an amulet can be described as a religious object consisting of a stone or other small item, often inscribed or carved with magical inscriptions, magic signs, magic symbols, formula or sacred text.