Ancient gold found at Karnak Temple

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a 2,600-year-old pot full of gold jewelry, including a rare statuette that depicts a family of gods that may have been worn as an amulet. The team found the pot at Karnak Temple, a complex near Luxor (ancient Thebes). The temple was initially built around 4,000 years ago and was continuously expanded, renovated and modified over millennia. A number of deities were worshipped at the site, including Amun, the chief god of Thebes. The finds include beads, amulets and statuettes, many of which are gold. One of the finds is a gold statuette that depicts the deities Amun, Khonsu and Mut standing beside each other. These gods were a family: Amun was the chief god of Thebes, his wife Mut was a mother goddess, and their son Khonsu was a moon god.

Some of the amulets found in the pot are wadjet (also spelled wedjet) amulets, which are eye-shaped amulets that for the Egyptians, imbues healing power and symbolizes rebirth. The amulet was thought to protect its wearer and to transfer the power of regeneration onto him or her. The jewelry could be votive offerings given to the deities during a ritual. Or perhaps they may have been a donation to the temple treasury. Another possibility is that they were buried for safekeeping during a time of political unrest. The jewelry seems to have been designed for burial and not everyday wear.