Amulets are items worn to protect their wearer by their religious associations, a religious equivalent to armour. In ancient Egypt any item of jewellery is likely to have some amuletic function in addition to its aesthetic, economic and social values. The religious significance may have varied from user to user, and for each individual according to the moment in their lives. It is difficult to assess the relative importance of the amuletic or religious aspect against these other aspects of the item worn. In Egyptology the word amulet is therefore generally reserved for bodily adornments of unambiguous religious form or context.