Mollusks

Mollusks in Ancient Egypt


 * Egyptian Name:**

//Inr n spt mw// ("Stone of the Shore")

Shells were used as jewelry from the earliest times in ancient Egypt, and were made into beads, bangles, amulets, rings, and girdles. Shells were popular with all classes of people - shell necklaces have been found in the poorest of graves at Predynastic sites such as Hierakonpolis, where the only other grave goods were pottery vessels.

The oyster shell amulet became very popular during the Middle Kingdom, and was worn by both women and men. These shell amulets were thought to promote good health, because of the similar sound of the Egyptian word for "shell" and the word meaning "sound, healthy." The oyster shell amulet was a real shell or one made of gold, silver, or electrum.

The shape of the cowrie shell was believed to mimic the female genitalia, and girdles of it were worn by women to protect that area of the body. Popular with pregnant women, these girdles used actual shells, or ones made from faience, red jasper, quartz, lapis lazuli, or carnelian. Dancers often wore cowrie girdles made of bronze, silver, or gold that rattled when they moved.

Snail-shells were occasionally used as whistles, and in later times as rattles. Large sea shells were sometimes used as jewelry boxes, scoops, s poons, and ladles. As food, mollusks played a small role, only becoming popular during the Roman Period.

Other Animals of Ancient Egypt