The menat was held in the hand by its counterpoise and used as arattle by Hathor's priestesses.[3][4] It was also worn as a protectiveamulet, particularly byApis bulls.[5]
The menat typically included anaegis attached to beaded strings. The other ends of the strings were tied to acounterweight that dangled on the wearer's back.[6] The aegis was often made offaience, but other materials such asleather andbronze were also used.[7] It was often inscribed or bore depictions of deities associated with Hathor.
The necklace was meant to ensure good luck and fortune and to protect against evil spirits. It was also worn for protection in theafterlife and is often found buried with the dead, given as a grave gift sinceRamesside times.[8] It was expected to foster fruitfulness and good health for women, and for men it signifiedvirility.[9]
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.
Media related toMenat-necklace and counterpoise at Wikimedia Commons
