Egyptian Steatite Scarab dedicated to Amun, Ma’at and Ra

$284.17

A steatite Egyptian scarab beetle amulet with incised features such as clypeus, prothorax and elytra marked by single lines. The reverse is inscribed with four clear hieroglyphs, including: Two sun-disks, a large goose and a feather.

The scarab is pierced longitudinally for suspension.

Date: Circa 1070 – 323 BC
Period: Third Intermediate Period – Late Period
Provenance: from the Gustave Mustaki collection, a collector of antiquities who amassed a large collection in Alexandria (Egypt).
Condition: Excellent. With very fine and clearly defined hieroglyphs.

SOLD

SKU: AH-776 Category: Tags: , ,

The hieroglyphs represented here call upon the protective properties of various deities. The wearer has been deliberately vague, not referencing just one deity but a multitude, through the use of the specifically chosen signs. We can see depicted a large ostrich feather, the symbol of Ma’at, goddess of truth and justice. The feather is also associated with the god of air, Shu. The large bird sign, a goose, symbolises the god Amun-Ra. The addition of the two sun-disks would also reiterate their presence and protection as solar deities.

Scarabs such as this, asking for protection from a specific god were popular in the late New Kingdom Period and Third Intermediate Period.

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

Weight 2.5 g
Dimensions L 1.8 cm
Country

Culture

Egyptian Mythology

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Region

Stone

Reference: For Similar: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, item 89.2.492