Selection of Ancient Egyptian Carnelian Scarab Amulets

£ 275.00£ 300.00

An Egyptian carnelian scarab and scaraboid dating from the New Kingdom, which exhibit seldom-seen abstracted and simplified decoration. Item A displays lightly incised detailing to display the prothorax with head and eyes. The other, smaller scaraboid remains unadorned but possesses a beautifully smoothened and veined surface. The reverse of both have been left undecorated and both have been pierced vertically through the centre for suspension; in these perforations both are blocked with the remnants of modern string that perhaps once connected these pieces in a necklace or bracelet.

INDIVIDUALLY PRICED

Date: Circa 1550 - 1070 BC
Period: New Kingdom
Condition: Excellent with some minor pitting to the reverse of each piece. Both suspension holes are now blocked.
£ 275.00£ 300.00
Choice of item A B
Clear selection
SKU: HD-20 Category: Tag:

The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the dessert 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. Scarabs hence served amuletic functions and were placed in tombs or worn as jewellery throughout Egypt and the Middle East, and were additionally inscribed with hieroglyphics upon their reverse. These particular scarabs do not bear such inscriptions.

The use of carnelian as a material further linked these scarabs to the sun god, Ra, as the stone’s flame-like colour was connected to the solar cult. The semi-precious stone was used frequently by the Egyptians of all social classes, through Dynastic Egypt until the Roman period. It was used abundantly for amulets, beads, small figurines and inlay works and it was prized despite its ample use. Referring to Ancient Egyptian texts, carnelian, because of its fiery appearance, was often associated with the blood-lust and rage of Egyptian deities. It was a stone used often in jewellery for sun disks and to represent the eye of Horus. It was also frequently paired with two other semi-precious stones; turquoise and lapis lazuli. Together, the three stones with their vivid colours of red, green and blue all alluded to ideas of re-birth, resurrection and regeneration.

To find out more about the use of carnelian in Ancient Egypt, please see our relevant blog post: The Significance of Carnelian in Ancient Egyptian Culture.

Weight N/A
Dimensions cm
Choice of item

,

Culture

Region

Semi-Precious Stones

Reference: For a similar item, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Acc. No. 76.31.2587

You may also like…