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Menat (ancient Egyptian mnj.t) was a name used for the goddess Hathor
Hathor

In Egyptian mythology, Hathor was originally a personification of the Milky Way, which was seen as the milk that flowed from the udders of a heavenly cow....
. With a slightly different hieroglyphic spelling it referred to an Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was an Ancient history civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile in what is now the modern nation of Egypt....
ian artifact which, like the sistrum
Sistrum

A sistrum is a musical instrument of the percussion instrument family, chiefly associated with ancient Egypt. It consists of a handle and a U-shaped metal frame, made of brass or bronze and between 10 and 30 cm in width....
 was closely connected with the goddess Hathor. It was held in the hand by its counterpoise and used as a rattle by Hathor's priestesses. Often it was worn as a protective amulet
Amulet

An amulet , a close cousin of the talisman consists of any object intended to bring good luck and/or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include: Gemstone or simple Gemstone, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, jewelry ring, plants, animals, etc.; even words said in certain occasions?for example: vade retro satana?, to repe...
, even by Apis bulls, the sons of Hathor.

The menat consisted of a plate termed aegis
Aegis

"Aegis" is a large collar or cape worn in ancient times to display the protection provided by a high religious authority or, it is the holder of a protective shield signifying the same, such as a bag-like garment that contained a shield....
 (Greek for "shield") worn on the chest, to which strands of beaded strings were attached.






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Menat (ancient Egyptian mnj.t) was a name used for the goddess Hathor
Hathor

In Egyptian mythology, Hathor was originally a personification of the Milky Way, which was seen as the milk that flowed from the udders of a heavenly cow....
. With a slightly different hieroglyphic spelling it referred to an Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was an Ancient history civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile in what is now the modern nation of Egypt....
ian artifact which, like the sistrum
Sistrum

A sistrum is a musical instrument of the percussion instrument family, chiefly associated with ancient Egypt. It consists of a handle and a U-shaped metal frame, made of brass or bronze and between 10 and 30 cm in width....
 was closely connected with the goddess Hathor. It was held in the hand by its counterpoise and used as a rattle by Hathor's priestesses. Often it was worn as a protective amulet
Amulet

An amulet , a close cousin of the talisman consists of any object intended to bring good luck and/or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include: Gemstone or simple Gemstone, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, jewelry ring, plants, animals, etc.; even words said in certain occasions?for example: vade retro satana?, to repe...
, even by Apis bulls, the sons of Hathor.

The menat consisted of a plate termed aegis
Aegis

"Aegis" is a large collar or cape worn in ancient times to display the protection provided by a high religious authority or, it is the holder of a protective shield signifying the same, such as a bag-like garment that contained a shield....
 (Greek for "shield") worn on the chest, to which strands of beaded strings were attached. The other ends of the strings were tied to a counterweight which dangled on the wearer's back. The aegis was often made of faience
Faience

Faience or fa?ence is the conventional name in English language for fine tin-glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff body. The invention of a white pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an stannous oxide to the slip of a lead glaze, was a major advance in the history of pottery....
, but other materials as varied as leather
Leather

Leather is a material created through the tanning of rawhides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. The tanning process converts the putrescible skin into a durable, long-lasting and versatile natural material for various uses....
 and bronze
Bronze

Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive, but sometimes with other chemical element such as phosphorus, manganese, aluminium, or silicon....
 were also used. It was often inscribed or bore depictions of deities associated with Hathor, such as the one of Sekhmet
Sekhmet

In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet , was originally the warrior goddess of Upper Egypt. She is depicted as a lion, the fiercest hunter known to the Egyptians....
 displayed to the right.

The necklace was hoped to provide 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
Ramesside Period

The Ramesside Period encompasses the Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt and Twentieth dynasty of Egypt of Ancient Egypt. It is named after "Ramesses", the name taken by the majority of the rulers of Egypt dating to this period of time....
 times (the nineteenth and twentieth dynasties that are the last two thirds of the period known as the New Kingdom
New Kingdom

The New Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Egyptian Empire, is the period in ancient Egyptian History of Ancient Egypt between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC, covering the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt, Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt, and Twentieth dynasty of Egypt....
).. Worn by women it was expected to foster fruitfulness and good health, while among men it signified virility.

Footnotes