Egyptian Steatite Scarab with a Falcon

$248.55

A steatite Egyptian scarab beetle amulet with incised features and hieroglyphs to the reverse. The obverse is only lightly moulded to depict the head and clypeus. Small indentation to the side mark the humeral callosities. The reverse features a collection of crude signs, the central falcon the most prevailing. Most likely the scene depicts the Horus falcon with a flail by his side, with the sun-disk and ‘men’ sign above. The amulet is pierced longitudinally for suspension.

Date: Circa 664 - 332 BC
Period: Late Period
Provenance: Ex major S.M., London, Collection 1970-2010.
Condition: Excellent. With very fine and clearly defined hieroglyphs.

SOLD

SKU: AH-1037 Category: Tags: , ,

The falcon figure represented is most likely the god Horus. Horus was depicted as two deities; Horus the Elder and Horus the Younger. Horus the Elder was considered god of the sky and the son of Geb, Earth and Nut, Sky. As a god he was associated with both the sun and the moon. Horus the Younger was the son of Osiris and Isis, he too was associated with the sky, sun and the moon. He was the protector of Egypt’s royalty and defender of order, uniter of the two lands (lower and upper Egypt). Over time, both Horus deities were merged with Ra, the sun god, and represented as a falcon headed man bearing the sun disk and the crown of upper and lower Egypt.

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

Weight 1.04 g
Dimensions L 1.3 cm
Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Region

Stone