The djed column was a symbol of stability and continuity. It was a stylized depiction of a tree whose branches have been bundled up by means of ropes. It is a symbol that is very closely tied with Osiris, the god of the dead and vegetation. An ancient Egyptian ritual consisted of erecting a djed column, which symbolized the resurrection of Osiris and by extension all plant life. Later in ancient Egyptian history, it came to be identified as the backbone of Osiris. Amulets were often shaped like the djed column to protect its wearer in death and in life.
