The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the desert 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. These scarab beetle amulets were made in various forms, such as heart scarabs, commemorative scarabs, and scarab amulets, thus catering to different functions. Scarab amulets were believed to have magical rejuvenating properties, used by both the living and the dead. The signs included were used for their apotropaic values and were frequent additions to scarab amulets.
Egyptian Steatite Scarab with Apotropaic Hieroglyphs
£ 425.00
A delicate, Egyptian steatite scarab with hieroglyphs to the reverse. The obverse features a simplified head and clypeus, formed from incised lines. The reverse features a pattern of apotropaic signs, including the broad collar ‘nwb’ sign, that translates as ‘gold’. It is surrounded by the windpipe ‘nfr’ sign that translates as good. The amulet is pierced longitudinally for suspension.
Period: Second Intermediate Period – New Kingdom
Provenance: From the Gustave Mustaki collection, a collector of antiquities who amassed large collection in Alexandria (Egypt)
Condition: Very fine, clear hieroglyphs to the reverse.
In stock
| Weight | 1.2 g |
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| Dimensions | L 1.4 x W 1.1 cm |
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