Egyptian Steatite Scarab Praising the God Hapy

$208.51

A steatite Egyptian scarab beetle amulet with incised features such as clypeus, prothorax and elytra marked by single lines. The reverse features two incised hieroglyphs; a large profile of a kneeling deity and the water jar sign. The figure is clearly distinguishable by the headdress worn, as the Nile god Hapy. The headdress features three, blooming lotus stalks. The water jar hieroglyph translates as ‘praise’. Thus, the scarab could likely be a dedication to the god Hapy.

The scarab is pierced longitudinally for suspension.

Date: Circa 1550 - 1070 BC
Period: New Kingdom Period
Provenance: From the Gustave Mustaki collection, a collector of antiquities who amassed a large collection in Alexandria (Egypt).
Condition: Excellent. With clearly defined hieroglyphs.

SOLD

SKU: AH-800 Category: Tags: , , ,

The Egyptian god Hapy (or Hapi) was the personification of the annual flooding of the river Nile. Depicted as a male figue with a large, rounded stomach and unusually, large dropping breasts. The rotund form of the god signifies his importance as a fertility god. He was both a god of Upper and Lower Egypt and was depicted slightly differently in each region. Within Upper Egypt he was frequently depicted with the areas respective heraldic plant, the papyrus. Whilst in Lower Egypt, Hapy was often crowned with the heraldic lotus plant, as can be seen here. He was associated with a number of gods and goddesses, including Nun, Osiris and Ra. Hapy was sometimes thought of as the father of the sun god, Ra, who rose up from the waters of Nun on the day of creation, and thus would be the father of all life forms.

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

Weight 0.7 g
Dimensions L 1.1 cm
Country

Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Region

Stone

Reference: For Similar: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, item 10.130.581