Jewelry was an important part of ancient Egyptian culture.
Excavation at the Karnak temple found a 2,600-year-old pot filled with gold jewelry, beads, and statues.
The statues of Egyptian gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu may have been worn as amulets.
Despite their hierarchical society, jewelry was for everyone in ancient Egypt. The poorest farmers and the richest pharaohs were all likely adorned (or at least buried) with jewelry. However, these accessories weren’t just for display—they were thought to have “apotropaic” powers, or powers to ward off evil.
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For the living, Egyptians thought jewelry would fend off disease and danger. For the dead, jewelry was meant to protect them for the rest of eternity. According to the American Research Center in Egypt, even just a single bead could act as a window into ancient Egyptian culture.
A recent excavation on the Karnak temple complex near Luxor, Egypt—which developed across a millennia, predominantly between the 12th and 20th dynasties, and prominently features the Temple of Amun-Ra—resulted in archaeologists discovering more than just a bead. It uncovered a whole treasure trove. The project was conducted by the Egyptian-French Centre for the Study of Karnak Temples (CFEETK) in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).
At the dig site, archaeologists discovered a broken pot filled with gold jewelry, statues of gods, beads, and a brooch. Experts believe the vessel is approximately 2,600 years old, dating back to Egypt’s 26th dynasty. Researchers found the artifacts in good condition, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
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The statues uncovered during the excavation depict the god Amun, the goddess Mut, and their son Khonsu side by side. Amun (meaning “the hidden one”) is often considered the father of pharaohs and king of gods. In the New Kingdom, Amun merged with sun god Ra (sometimes spelled “Re”), becoming both the visible and invisible god, which appealed to the Egyptian ideal of balance. Experts believe the figurines are part of an amulet or another piece of jewelry worn around the neck. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, all artifacts found at the site will be restored and likely displayed at the Luxor museum.
This excavation was a small part of ongoing work at the Karnak temple complex, according to Jérémy Hourdin, head of the French’s side of the project. Sherif Fathy—Minister of Tourism and Antiquities—praised the collaboration between the teams, emphasizing the role of their work on some of the “most important” ancient Egyptian temples in the world.
“It is a very important discovery,” Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said,“because it provides a clearer understanding of the historical development of the Karnak Temples during the first millennium B.C.E.”
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Emma Frederickson is a Pace University student by day, journalist by night. She enjoys covering anything from pop culture to science to food. Her work appears in several publications including Biography.com and Popular Mechanics. When she’s not writing, Emma can be found hopping between coffee shops on the hunt for the world’s best oat milk cappuccino.