Ancient Egyptian red jasper heart-shaped amulet. For the ancient Egyptians, the heart (ib) was the source of intelligence, feelings and actions. A person's memory was also housed in the heart and so that judgement ceremony (weighing of the heart) in the afterlife, the heart was able to speak on behalf of the deceased, accounting to Osiris for a lifetime of deeds. Therefore, heart amulets were only used on the mummy to protect the owner's organ and to ensure that his heart give a positive response at judgement.
1295-1070 BC.
