The Ametat and Avetat (Ancient Amarr for the Scepter and the Crown) are a pair of holy Amarr artifacts linked to the semi-mythological first Emperor, Amash-Akura, the founding of the Empire, and the mythological beings known as the sefrim. They are mentioned numerous times in the Scriptures and are attributed with several magical powers. Despite their mythological status, numerous scholars propose that the artifacts actually existed at one time.
Story
During the tenth year of the reign of Emperor Amash-Akura, the sun went black. Birds fell dead from the sky, plants withered, and people fell sick in droves. Despite the ill omens, from the sky came the entities known as the sefrim. Described as beautiful, angelic beings who had to wear masks to protect others from being struck dead at their sight, the sefrim had been ordered by God to guard the Emperor and give to him the Ametat and Avetat. The Ametat (the Scepter) gave Amash-Akura vigor and kept him from aging. The Avetat (the Crown) provided him with wisdom and acumen, allowing him to rule wisely and justly.
When Molok the Deceiver later turned the people against Amash-Akura, the Emperor angrily cast out the sefrim. Immediately, the sun once again went black, the Ametat and Avetat lost their power and Amash-Akura immediately withered and aged greatly.
Despite this, Amash-Akura fought against his enemies using the Ametat and Avetat. Soon after defeating them, the Emperor passed away in his bedchambers and the night sky turned red. The Ametat and Avetat were kept in the Emperor's family for four centuries, when they inexplicably disappeared. According to a report from the Court Chamberlain, they had not shown any sign of tarnish or age.
Historical Evidence
There has been much debate on if the Ametat and Avetat existed and whether they possessed the amazing powers ascribed to them. The most-commonly held belief among non-Amarr scholars is that the Ametat and Avetat were simply crown jewels bestowed to the first Amarr Emperor by his vassals. According to these scholars, the jewels were given mythological qualities as a form of propaganda by early Emperors in order to reinforce their power and inspire worship from the commoners.
Amarr theologians, however, have presented numerous pieces of evidence to counter these claims. First is the the darkening of the sun recorded in the Book of Epitoth, which matches up with two solar eclipses caused by the planet Zorast. Second, an asteroid strike on Zorast occurred roughly at the time when Amash-Akura is recorded as passing, which would have caused an astronomical event visible on Amarr.
Finally, they point to the discovery of numerous scattered artifacts across the cosmos that have supposedly inexplicable powers. While many have proven to be Jove artifacts, or bits of technology belonging to the Sleepers or other lost civilizations, some, such as Jamyl I's super weapon, remain unexplained. The Amarr contend the Ametat and Avetat could be similar relics given to the Emperor by the sefrim.
Searches and Hoaxes
Since the legend of the Ametat and Avetat plays such a pivotal role in the founding and early glory of the Amarr Empire, numerous attempts to locate them have been made. While the entirety of Amarr Prime has been scoured for them, the vastness of space means that they may still exist on some forlorn planet, awaiting rediscovery.
All searches so far have ended in failure. Two such searches are particularly notable, however.
Ilash Toth's expedition
The first was launched shortly after the Empire developed the jump gate, when a notable radical theologian, Ilash Toth, and a contingent of fifty-thousand followers set up an expedition to find the artifacts. Toth had long espoused a return to the early days of the Empire, before contact with the Udorians instigated the Reclaiming, and purportedly received a vision from God that would lead him to the Ametat and Avetat and enable him to reestablish what he considered the old days of glory.
Toth's following had grown quite massive and his intention to launch an expedition drew great interest from all quarters of the Empire. The search lasted for three years, with Toth reportedly growing closer and closer to uncovering the resting place of the artifacts. Eventually he came to believe he was nearly at the point of discovery and sent a tenth of his followers back to Amarr to spread the word that the Ametat and Avetat were on their way back to the Empire.
However, Toth and his remaining followers never returned, and no trace of them was found. The system where those followers that had returned claimed they had left him was devoid of any indication of their fates, with no wrecks nor evidence that Toth had ever been to the system. Treasure hunters fell upon the system, but never discovered the Ametat and Avetat. To this day, Toth's disappearance remains a mystery.
Harr Indi's expedition
Shortly after the conquest of the Minmatar Empire, a Holder claimed to have found the Ametat and Avetat resting in the jungles of Matar. The Holder, Harr Indi, said that he'd overheard tribal stories being told by his slaves and, rather than punish them for telling blasphemous legends, realized what they described resembled the lost artifacts.
Indi interrogated his slaves and followed their information to a ruined temple deep in the jungle. The temple was covered in Amarr iconography and contained numerous artifacts, among them the Ametat and Avetat.
Indi delivered the artifacts to the Emperor in a glorious ceremony, receiving a massive reward for his discovery. For nearly a year, the artifacts were accepted as authentic by the people. However, eventually the Theology Council determined they were exquisite forgeries. It was only by chance this was discovered, thanks to a stray rune on the Ametat containing an extra stroke that did not match ancient drawings of the artifacts.
Indi disappeared, but a search of his estates revealed he had fabricated everything. There'd been no tribal stories, no ruined temple, and the false Ametat and Avetat were the result of nearly a decade of work, with Indi's motive having apparently been nothing more than a desire for fame. Imperial authorities never caught him, suggesting someone may tipped him off that the forgery had been discovered.