The menat necklace can be worn by any gender. Fundamentally it protects against evil spirits and malevolent magic, makes women fertile and men virile. Popular from the Old Kingdom on, by the 12th century BCE it's also found in tombs for afterlife protection.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
The necklace below is made of many strings of beads forming a collar, and counterpoise or counterweight of bronze. The menat can be worn as jewelry, protective charm, or held and rattled during rituals and processions. Moon God Khonsu wears one in his child aspect.
READ: Reiker For Hire - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries
The beads might be turquoise, carnelian, lapis lazuli, Egyptian faience, garnet, serpentine, obsidian, ebony or other polished wood. After the 15th century BCE they include glass. The Egyptians have access to emeralds, although deep green glass is also called emerald.
As a ritual object the menat is used by priestesses of the Goddess Hathor. A cosmic cow mother goddess, she also has a role as the ruthless Eye of Ra. Eye of Rah goddesses include Sekhmet, war goddess of Egypt and Wadjet winged cobra goddess of Lower Egypt.
READ: Lora Ley Adventures - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series
As jewelry the menat signifies fruitfulness and good health for women, and virility and stamina for men. It's also worn by the Apis sacred bull as a protective charm, symbol of vigorous strength and divine connection.
Goddess Hathor is among the most widely revered deities of Egypt. Her priestesses use both the menat necklace and sistrum, a musical rattling instrument, in her honor. Hathor is goddess of beauty, cosmetics, sensuality, music, dance and maternity.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
She's recognized by her Sun disc with horns. She may also appear as a cow or lioness. Her epithets include Lady of Music, Lady of the Chorus Dance and Lady of Inebriety, Jubilation and of Music.
The counterweight above bears the image of Hathor, as the divine cow in her papyrus reed boat at bottom, cruising through the marshes. A smaller Hathor is inside the larger stylized Hathor.
READ: Lora Ley Adventures - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series
The counterweight itself is a magical symbol of the goddess and can be ornate or plain. Metal is preferred for ritual dance due to the musical sound made by the beads striking or moving across, but counterweights are also found in leather and faience.
During the festival of Hathor on October 4, the priestesses go from door to door shaking menats and sistra. They bring blessings of life, health and rebirth to every household.