Egyptian Steatite Scarab Dedicated to Ramesses IV

$625.17

A steatite Egyptian scarab with incised features such as the clypeus, prothorax and elytra marked by single lines. Decorated to the reverse, it has been incised with a chariot scene, depicting a pharaoh holding the reins of a horse-drawn chariot. To the top of the scarab are small hieroglyphs, including the head of canine animal, known as the ‘wsr’ sign and the seated figure of Ma’at, goddess of truth and justice. Together these transliterate as user-maat-[re], the throne name of Rameses IV.

Transliterated the hieroglyphs read: wsr-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ

Adding the vowels, they read: User-maat-ra

Translating as: The justice of Ra is powerful

Date: Circa 1153–1147 BC
Period: New Kingdom, Dynasty 20
Provenance: Ex private London based collection, AH, formerly in English family collections acquired from the 1920s - 1990s.
Condition: Fine. Front of the scarab chipped.

SOLD

SKU: AH-882 Category: Tags: , , ,

The throne name Usermaatre was one used by Ramesses IV, as well as his father (Ramesses III) and his illustrious ancestor, Ramesses II. He was the third pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty, ruling for 6 short years from 1155 – 1149 BC. He was the fifth son of Ramesses III, his four brothers having predeceased their father. He attempted to carry on the monumental building program developed by Ramesses the Great. Part of this program included extending the Temple of Khonsu at Karnak. Ramesses IV changed his throne name early on in his reign from Usermaatre to Heqamaatre, which translates as ‘True Ruler’ or ‘Ruler in Truth’, perhaps in an attempt to distinguish himself from his father and the Great Ancestor.

Weight 1.7 g
Dimensions L 1.6 cm
Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Egyptian Pharaohs

Region

Stone

Reference: For Similar: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, item 04.2.790

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