"This Ancient Talisman..."

...was discovered deep within the Middle Kingdom tomb of

Queen Mar-Gara-Tiri...

the Egyptian Lotus Goddess...

guardian of Water Blossoms which grew profusely

in the ancient river civilizations

of the Near East.

The talisman itself is

in the design of the Udjat Eye...

...and is noted to be one of the most powerful of all talismans in

Ancient Egypt.

The Udjat, once brilliant in color, adorned a fragment of finely woven linen.

This potent charm was used to protect its owner from sickness

and

to provide eternal life in the afterworld.

The linen fragment itself was

found placed within a translucent alabaster carved vessel

which was sealed with a golden cartouche

and bound with

finely woven and intricately plaited papyrus reed fibers.

The reeds were tied with delicate knots

bejeweled in amulets of lapis lazuli, carnelian, and turquoise.

Miniature scrolls written in hieroglyphs

were also found within the alabaster vessel.

They indicated that

Ptah, the Egyptian deity protecting ancient artisans,

had befriended Mar-Gara-Tiri

and became her Muse

showering her with good juju.

It is believed, by many Egyptologists, that vessels like these

were used for watercolor painting

and that the colors painted on the cloth

designated the color palette used by the artist-owner

of the vessel.

Such vessels and their magical contents were buried with female owners

to provide colorful serenity

throughout their journey in the afterlife.

It has been said that whoever gazes upon such an artifact as this will be

inspired in the ways of the ancient artistic ones.

They will be surrounded with a lifetime of

good karma...where Every Day Matters...,

and

that the art produced by each viewer

from that day forward

will have

magical and joyful properties.

"So let it be written...So let it be done."

~Rameses II (Yul Brenner)

The Ten Commandments-1956

Illustration Friday Challenge: Talisman