Ancient Egyptian Steatite Scarab with Symmetrical Hieroglyphic Inscription
£ 195.00
An Egyptian steatite scarab with inscribed hieroglyphs on the reverse. The top of the scarab features incisions detailing the head, eyes and clypeus of the scarab. Two shallow grooves at the sides of the body indicate the prothorax. The rest of the top surface is smooth and unadorned. The legs of the scarab are delicately carved into the side, and are enhanced with short, vertical hatched lines known as ‘feathering’ to add texture. The reverse features deeply incised hieroglyphs in a symmetrical pattern. There are two large ‘kheper’ (scarab) signs to the centre, flanked by ‘uraei’ (cobras) on either side. The hieroglyphs are encircled in a cartouche. The scarab is pierced longitudinally however, is now partially blocked.
Date: Circa 664-332 BC
Period: Late Period
Provenance: Ex private UK collection, Mr. DP, formerly acquired from a London ADA dealership, from 2004-2012.
Condition: Good. Some slight damage to both ends of the scarab. A hairline crack over the top surface. Earthy encrustations throughout.
SOLD
The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the desert mirrored the journey of the sun across the sky from day to night. As the beetle laid its eggs within the dung, it became a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. The Uraeus cobra symbol derives from word ‘iaret’, meaning ‘the risen one’. Cobras rising up in protection were used on the front of the headdresses of gods and pharaohs, suggesting the amulet may have been an emblem of royal and divine power and authority.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.