Egyptian Steatite Hyksos-Period Scarab
$311.41
A steatite Egyptian scarab decorated to the reverse with hieroglyphs. The front features a detailed head and clypeus. The elytra remains plain, with indentations at the side to indicate the separation between prothorack and elytra. The reverse features inscribed hieroglyphs, placed symmetrically, and include a stylised representation of the Deshret red crown of Lower Egypt and the wedjet eye. Lower Egypt was typically the area controlled by the Hyksos. The amulet is pierced longitudinally for suspension.
Date: Circa 1650 - 1550 BC
Period: Second Intermediate Period, 15th Dynasty, Hyksos Period
Provenance: Ex private London based collection, AH, formerly in English family collections acquired from the 1920s - 1990s.
Condition: Very fine. Hairline crack to the centre.
SOLD
The Hyksos period, during the late Middle Kingdom, was a period of foreign rule by a succession of Asiatic chieftains, hailing from the Levant. Craftsmen followed on the tradition of using scarabs as protection amulets however their style and motifs were different. A scarab such as this, typical of the Hyksos style, features characteristic ‘Egyptian’ hieroglyphs formulated into a symmetrical pattern. The Hyksos recognised the apotropaic values of the scarab and one such as this, with the deshret and wadjet signs, would have been exceedingly popular.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.
