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In ancient Egyptian religion, a menat (Ancient Egyptian: mnj.t (𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧), Arabic: منات) was a necklace closely associated with the goddess Hathor.^[1]^[2]

Operation

The menat was held in the hand by its counterpoise and used as a rattle by Hathor's priestesses.^[3]^[4] It was also worn as a protective amulet, particularly by Apis bulls.^[5]

Parts

The menat typically included an aegis attached to beaded strings. The other ends of the strings were tied to a counterweight that dangled on the wearer's back.^[6] The aegis was often made of faience, but other materials such as leather and bronze were also used.^[7] It was often inscribed or bore depictions of deities associated with Hathor.

Purpose

The necklace was meant to ensure good luck and fortune and to protect against evil spirits. It was also worn for protection in the afterlife and is often found buried with the dead, given as a grave gift since Ramesside times.^[8] It was expected to foster fruitfulness and good health for women, and for men it signified virility.^[9]

Footnotes

^ Ermann & Grapow, 2, 76, 4.
^ Armour 2001, p. 91.
^ Ermann & Grapow, 2, 75.18-76.3.
^ Hart 2005, p. 65.
^ van der Toorn et al. 1999, p. 70.
^ Bianchi 2004, p. 202.
^ Petrie Museum Collection - search for menat
^ Lurker 1974, p. 132.
^ Doniger 1999, p. 709.

References

Armour, Robert A. (2001). Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt. American Univ. in Cairo Press.
Bianchi, Robert Steven (2004). Daily Life of the Nubians. Greenwood Press.
Doniger, Wendy (1999). Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam-Webster.
Erman, Johann Peter Adolf, and Hermann Grapow, eds. 1926–1953. Wörterbuch der aegyptischen Sprache im Auftrage der deutschen Akademien. 6 vols. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs’schen Buchhandlungen. (Reprinted Berlin: Akademie-Verlag GmbH, 1971.)
Hart, George (2005). The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. Routledge.
Lurker, Manfres (1974). Lexikon der Götter und Symbole der alten Ägypter (in German). Scherz.
van der Toorn, Karel; van der Horst, Pieter Willem; Becking, Bob; Eerdmans, Wm. B. (1999). Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.