Plaque Amulet with the Representation of Heh

The amulet shows a kneeling male figure of the god Heh in profile. He holds a palm rib in each of his two raised arms. By combining Heh, the hieroglyphic symbol for “a million”, with the palm branch representing “a year”, the amulet wished the wearer “millions of years of life”. Heh is the god of eternity, consequently the object, worn as a jewellery amulet, symbolised eternal life, and the achievement of eternal afterlife was the ultimate goal of the ancient Egyptians.

In the first phase of the creation of the universe, Shu created eight supporters to assist Nut, the sky, who are called Heh. The god Heh consequently also had a role in supporting the creation of the universe, its eternal sustenance, and the continuous renewal of the sun god and the deceased.

On the top of the plaque amulet, there is also a loop for suspension. The amulets were most often made of glazed Egyptian faience, whose greenish-bluish colour also supported rebirth. This Heh amulet type can be dated to the Ramesside period of the New Kingdom.