Phoenician-Egyptian Haematite Scarab with Hieroglyphic Inscription

£ 750.00

A fine Ancient Phoenician-Egyptian haematite scarab amulet featuring a hieroglyphic inscription to the reverse. The rounded obverse depicts the anatomical details of the scarab, with fine incisions outlining the head and clypeus, now slightly worn, and two diagonal impressions indicating the eyes. The rest of the obverse is smooth and unadorned. Regular horizontal incisions to the sides of the scarab indicate the legs. On the flat reverse, the top register is inscribed with a falcon facing right and a lotus flower facing left. Beneath, two uraei flank an altar bearing a zigzag offering, possibly representing flames. This inscription likely reads as a wish for good fortune, expressed through a collection of apotropaic symbols. The scarab was pierced longitudinally for suspension, though this is now filled. Some wear and earthy encrustations feature to the surface, including a vertical indentation across the obverse. A shallow scratch runs diagonally across the reverse face, lightly obscuring some hieroglyphs.

Date: Circa 900-332 BC
Period: Third Intermediate - Late Dynastic Period
Provenance: Collected from 1969-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.
Condition: Good. Some wear and earthy encrustations. A scratch to the reverse.

In stock

SKU: KW-157 Category: Tags: , , , , ,

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.

Haematite is a rare material for scarab amulets, and almost always found in Phoenician contexts. In Ancient Phoenicia, as in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth, social status and privilege. However Phoenician artistic exports are characterised by the variety of cultural influences that shaped their art and manufacture. The combination of Egyptian writing and glyphs alongside non-Egyptian motifs is typical of Phoenician craftsmanship of this period.

Phoenician religion was as diverse as its artistic output, borrowing much from Canaanite theology. Worship occurred both at designated temples and in sacred wildernesses with an administrative school of priesthoods. Typical religious practice included the burning of sacrifices and votive offerings upon altars, such as this scarab likely depicts.

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

Weight 2.20 g
Dimensions L 1.6 x W 1.1 x H 0.7 cm
Culture

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Semi-Precious Stones

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Reference: For imagery of uraei,The Michael C. Carlos Museum, item 2008.031.315and for similar Egyptian imagery on a Phoenician scarab,The Michael C. Carlos Museum, item 2008.030.011

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