Name: Egyptian Steatite Scarab with Apotropaic Hieroglyphs
SKU: AH-1250
Availability: InStock

Egyptian Steatite Scarab with Apotropaic Hieroglyphs

£ 365.00

A fine ancient Egyptian steatite scarab featuring apotropaic hieroglyphs to the reverse. The obverse is simple in nature, with a stylised, moulded clypeus and head. Incised indentations mark the humeral callosities. Unusually there is a long curl to the right side of the body. The reverse features three prominent hieroglyphs: the seated figure of the goddess Ma’at, holding an ‘ankh’ at her knees and wearing a feathered headdress. The second sign is an undulating uraeus, followed by an ‘ankh’ sign. All three signs were highly apotropaic.

Date:

Period:

Condition:

In stock

Ma’at was the Egyptian goddess and personification of truth, harmony, law and justice. She was depicted wearing an ostrich feather, symbol of truth. She represented the principles that every Egyptian citizen was expected to follow through their daily lives. She was especially important within the afterlife and the ‘Weighing of the Heart’ ceremony, when the heart of the deceased was measured against Ma’at’s feather.

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