Egyptian Steatite Scarab with Incised Vulture

£ 350.00

A steatite Egyptian scarab with incised hieroglyphs to the reverse. The moulded obverse features a detailed clypeus, head, whilst single inscribed lines have been used to depict the prothorax and elytra. The reverse depicts a vulture wearing a crown. Typically the vulture was associated with the white crown of Upper Egypt.  The scarab is pierced longitudinally for suspension.

Date: Circa 1550 - 1070 BC
Period: New Kingdom Period
Provenance: Ex private UK collection, Mr. DP, formerly acquired from a London dealership, BL, from 2004-2012.
Condition: Excellent condition. With clear detailing and deeply cut hieroglyphs.

SOLD

SKU: AH-1143 Category: Tags: , ,

The vulture was a sacred bird, emblematic of two goddesses; Mut and Nekhbet. The former is often depicted wearing the feathers of a vulture as a headdress or as wings at her back. She was a principle deity, wife of the solar-god Amun and thus labelled as the mother of all gods. She is often seen wearing the double grown of Egypt, showing her unification of the land. Nekhbet, was another principal deity, the patron deity of Upper Egypt who was also represented as a vulture. She was the tutelary goddess of Egyptian kings, associated with the Two Ladies name, alongside the goddess Wadjet. The vulture was associated mostly with Upper 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 1.5 x W 1.1 cm
Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Region

Stone

Reference: For Similar: The Isreal Museum, Jerusalem, item 76.31.4344