This particular scarab has been dedicated to the god Amun-Ra. The god is represented by the barque symbol to the top and the two sun-disks on either side. The ‘nfr’ sign can be translated as good, perfect or blessed and such associated words. The scarab would translate as ‘being’ or ‘form’. Thus the entire phrasing would translate as ‘Blessed is the form of Amun-Ra’. Scarabs such as this, asking for protection from a specific god were popular in the late New Kingdom Period and Third Intermediate Period.
The Egyptian god, Amun-Ra, was a highly important deity in the Egyptian pantheon. Originally, he was worshipped as two gods, the creator of the universe, Amun, and the sun-god, Ra. He gains national importance after the defeat of the Hyksos at Thebes in the 16th century and it is from this date we see a combination of the two gods. As his position grew, Amun-Ra’s worship was almost monotheistic in nature, with the other gods considered manifestations of him. So great was his influence that he was identified with the Greek god Zeus from the Ptolemaic period, to form Zeus Ammon. Alexander the Great claimed divine descent as the son of Amun.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.