This scarab from the Fifteenth dynasty in the Second Intermediate Period was undoubtedly a form of protection for its wearer. On the reverse are some incised An-Ra signs, transliterated as ‘a’, ‘n’, ‘r’ and whilst the combination of signs do not translate, the signs were held in high regard. These are often interpreted as the name of the sun god, Ra, or perhaps imitations by Asiatic craftsmen who did not understand the hieroglyphic script. Beneath the An-Ra is an image of a beaded collar, which here represents gold, a common metal in Egypt that was associated with the skin of the sun god. The two signs flanking the central imagery on the underside of the scarab beetle depicts a cow heart and larynx, pronounced ‘nefer’ and, despite its nature, represents beauty and goodness.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.