ames The ancient Egyptian name for the SCEPTERin
the form of a club or mace that was used as a royal
insignia in most eras, the amesdates back to the early
period of Egypt (c. 3000 B.C.E.), when the warriors of the
south invaded the Delta, subduing the Bee King’s armies
and unifying the nation. The kings maintained the
insignias of ancient times and incorporated them into the
newer rituals of office.
Amestris(fl. fifth century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the
Persian Empire
She was the consort of XERXES Iand the mother of ARTA-
XERXES I(r. 465–424 B.C.E.). Her husband was murdered,
but she remained strong and dominated the first years of
her son’s reign.
amethyst A semiprecious stone, a variety of quartz,
usually lavender or purple in color, these stones were dis-
covered in the southern desert regions of Egypt and were
highly prized.
See also EGYPTIAN NATURAL RESOURCES.
Amherst Papyrus This was a document from THEBES
that contained an account of the Ramessid-Period TOMB
ROBBERY TRIALS. With the ABBOTT PAPYRUS, which includes
an account of the same event, this text provides detailed
information and insight into the Twentieth Dynasty
(1196–1070 B.C.E.), a period of declining royal authority
and law and order in the Nile Valley. The Amherst
Papyrus was owned originally by the first baron Amherst
of Hockney, England, and consisted of the lower half of a
document concerning Twentieth Dynasty robberies. The
upper portion of the papyrus, now called the Leopold II
Papyrus, was discovered in Brussels. The two sections
were joined by scholars and photographed for translation
purposes.
Ami-ut A dog-headed deity of ancient Egypt, con-
cerned with funerary elements, he was probably a fore-
runner of OSIRISand became overshadowed by that deity.
A headless BULL’s skin attached to a rod was the symbol of
Ami-ut, an insignia used in some funerary rituals.
See also TEKENU.
Amorites An ancient Semitic people called the Amur-
ruor Martuin records from Sumeria, they dominated the
region of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine from c. 2000
to c. 1600 B.C.E., bringing them into conflict with Egypt.
Their homeland is believed to have been Arabia, and
they are credited with bringing the fall of the city of Ur.
The Amorites migrated into the region in the 21st
century B.C.E., assimilating to the Sumerian-Akkadian
culture in time. Almost all of the kings of Babylon could
trace their ancestry to this stock. The Amorites had a cap-
ital at Meri, modern Tell al-Hariri, Syria, and at Halab,
now called Aleppo. The region called Amurru was
located in northern Palestine and in the Syrian desert
region. Inscriptions from the era of Egypt’s First Interme-
diate Period (2134–2040 B.C.E.) indicate that the Amor-
ites controlled Phoenicia, modern Lebanon, disrupting
TRADEwith Egypt. AMENEMHET I(r. 1991–1962 B.C.E.)
restored such trade during his reign.Amratian The name given to the first Predynastic
Period, NAGADA I, this phase was centered in el-’Amirah,
near ABYDOS, in Upper Egypt. Sites dating to c. 3600
B.C.E. give evidence of Badarian (a prior phase) influ-
ences, improved and adapted to advance techniques. The
pottery from this Amratian period includes black topped
red ocher ware, with linear designs in white, including
figures. MACEHEADS, vases, and ivory carving were also
recovered from Amratian sites.
See also EGYPT.Amtes (Yamtes)(fl. 23rd century B.C.E.) Royal woman
of the Sixth Dynasty
She was a consort of PEPI I(r. 2289–2555 B.C.E.). Some
records indicate that Amtes was involved in a HAREM(1)
plot to overthrow Pepi I. The conspiracy was unsuccess-
ful, and an official named WENIwas called upon to inves-
tigate the charges against Amtes and her fellow
conspirators. No record is available to give an account of
the verdict of the trial, but she disappeared from the
court as a result.amulet This was a decoratively carved item that was
worn by ancient Egyptians in keeping with their religious
traditions. Called the wedjau,such an amulet was nor-
mally fashioned out of metal, wood, FAIENCE, terra-cotta,
or stone and was believed to contain magical powers,
providing the wearer with supernatural benefits and
charms. The potential power of the amulet was deter-
mined by the material, color, shape, or spell of its origin.
Living Egyptians wore amulets as pendants, and the
deceased had amulets placed in their linen wrappings in
their coffins. Various styles of amulets were employed at
different times for different purposes. Some were carved
assacred symbols in order to demonstrate devotion to a
particular deity, thus ensuring the god’s intercession and
intervention on behalf of the wearer.
The DJED,for example, was the symbol of stability
that was associated with the god OSIRIS. This was nor-
mally wornon the chest, on a cord or necklace. The
amulet was placed on the neck of the deceased, in order
to protect that part of the anatomy in the afterlife. The
djedwas normally fashioned out of glazed faience, gold,
gilded wood, LAPIS LAZULI, or some other semiprecious
stone. The djedas a national symbol was used in festivals
and celebrations.34 ames