archaicwonder:

Egyptian Menat Necklace, Reign of Amenhotep III

Excavated from the Malkata palace at Thebes, dating to the New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, circa 1390-1353 BC. Made of faience, bronze or copper alloy, glass, agate, carnelian, lapis lazuli and turquoise.

A menat necklace consists of a heavy, keyhole-shaped counterpoise (menat) and many strands of beads. Although the necklace is sometimes shown being worn, it was more often carried by females participating in religious ceremonies. It functioned as a percussion instrument that was shaken to create a soothing noise that was thought to appease a god or goddess. In the New Kingdom the menat necklace and the systrum were attributes of women who held the title “Singer of Amun-Re.”