| Date | ca. 1539–1077 BC |
|---|---|
| Object type | intaglio and similar objects, scarab, scaraboid, seal |
| Medium, technique | steatite, with blue glaze |
| Dimensions | 0.8 × 1.3 × 1.7 cm |
| Inventory number | 51.385 |
| Collection | Egyptian Art |
| On view | This artwork is not on display |
This scarab made of turquoise glazed steatite has been carved into the form of a dung beetle (Scarabaeus sacer). From the earliest times the adult dung beetle that was observed to roll a ball of dung across the sand apparently prompted in the minds of the Egyptians a comparison with the rising sun god reborn at each dawn. The noun ‘scarab’ literally means ‘that which comes into being’, and thereby the amulet was associated both with the notion of the creation of new life and of rebirth. The oval underside of this scarab is inscribed with the name of queen Ahmose Nofertari, wife of pharaoh Ahmose (ca. 1539–1515 BC) who successfully overthrow the Hyksos occupation. The queen and his son, Amenhotep I (ca. 1514–1494 BC) were venerated for many centuries after their death as the patron deities of the Theban necropolis, so her name continued to appear on similar amulets long after her death. The scarab was the most popular amulet in ancient Egypt, which could assure protection for the bodies of mortals during their lifetime or help them on their journey through the netherworld. The piercing through the longitudinal axis of the amulet suggests that it was originally worn on a chain or set in a ring.
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.
