Egyptian Steatite Scarab Amulet

£ 275.00

A decorated, Egyptian steatite scarab with hieroglyphs to the reverse. The obverse features a simplified head and clypeus, formed from incised lines. Hatched lines to the scarab’s sides allude to the presence of feet. The reverse features a simple, symmetrical scene with a central incised ‘nefer’ hieroglyph, which translates as ‘good’ or ‘perfect’. A scroll motif surrounds the central hieroglyph. The scarab has been pierced longitudinally for suspension.

Date: Circa 2100-1600 BC
Period: Middle Kingdom
Provenance: Ex private UK collection, Cambridge, Mr S. collection.
Condition: Very fine. Clear hieroglyphs and incised detailing.

In stock

SKU: HD-34 Category: Tags: ,

The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the dessert 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. Scarabs hence served amuletic functions and were placed in tombs or worn as jewellery throughout Egypt and the Middle East, and were additionally inscribed with hieroglyphics upon their reverse.

Scarabs, such as this piece, designed with symmetric compositions of hieroglyphs and scrolls were exceedingly popular in the Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period. Scroll imagery did not have a specific meaning but was often paired with other important symbols, usually with their own apotropaic values.

To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.

Weight 1.26 g
Dimensions L 1.4 x W 0.9 cm
Culture

Region

Stone

Reference: For a similar item, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, item 76.21.2194

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