Origin: Upper Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Steatite The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is  More »

Origin: Upper Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Steatite The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an emblem of the creator, Khepera. The word kepher denotes Being, Existence, Creation, or Becoming, and the god Kephera is the self-existent maker of all things. The worship of the scarab, which is symbolic of resurrection and fertility, dates from the earliest period of civilization in Egypt. Carved scarabs served two major functions: as amulets with protective and religious powers, and as personal seals, which designated the property and authority of the individual whose name was placed upon them. In both cases, the power ascribed to the scarab was very great—in life they served as the signature of their owner and were thought to bring prosperity, and in the afterlife they ensured rebirth through eternity. Inscribed with a cartouche containing the name Menkheperre (Tuthmosis III). The cartouche is flanked on each side by a winged Kheper beetle. - (S.082)   « Less

Origin: Upper Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an  More »

Origin: Upper Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an emblem of the creator, Khepera. The word kepher denotes Being, Existence, Creation, or Becoming, and the god Kephera is the self-existent maker of all things. The worship of the scarab, which is symbolic of resurrection and fertility, dates from the earliest period of civilization in Egypt. Carved scarabs served two major functions: as amulets with protective and religious powers, and as personal seals, which designated the property and authority of the individual whose name was placed upon them. In both cases, the power ascribed to the scarab was very great—in life they served as the signature of their owner and were thought to bring prosperity, and in the afterlife they ensured rebirth through eternity. Inscribed with the name of the god Amun, below which is a goose, sacred bird of the god. - (S.083)   « Less

Origin: Upper Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Dimensions: .25" (0.6cm) high x .5" (1.3cm) wide x .625" (1.6cm) depth Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New  More »

Origin: Upper Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Dimensions: .25" (0.6cm) high x .5" (1.3cm) wide x .625" (1.6cm) depth Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Steatite The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an emblem of the creator, Khepera. The word kepher denotes Being, Existence, Creation, or Becoming, and the god Kephera is the self-existent maker of all things. The worship of the scarab, which is symbolic of resurrection and fertility, dates from the earliest period of civilization in Egypt. Carved scarabs served two major functions: as amulets with protective and religious powers, and as personal seals, which designated the property and authority of the individual whose name was placed upon them. In both cases, the power ascribed to the scarab was very great—in life they served as the signature of their owner and were thought to bring prosperity, and in the afterlife they ensured rebirth through eternity. Inscribed with a sphinx, representing the king. Above is an Ankh. - (S.090)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 11 th Century BC to 10 th Century BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 1.5" (3.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Stone By far  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 11 th Century BC to 10 th Century BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 1.5" (3.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Stone By far the most important amulet in ancient Egypt was the scarab, symbolically as sacred to the Egyptians as the cross is to Christians. Based upon the dung beetle, this sacred creature forms a ball of dung around its semen and rolls it in a large ball over the sand dropping it into its burrow. The female lays her eggs on the ground and covers them with the excrement ball that is consumed by the larvae that emerge in the following days as if miraculously reborn. In the life cycle of the beetle, the Ancient Egyptians envisioned a microcosm of the daily rebirth of the sun. They imagined the ancient sun god Khepri was a great scarab beetle rolling the sun across the heavens. The scarab also became a symbol of the enduring human soul as well, hence its frequent appearance in funerary art. Scarabs of various materials form an important class of Egyptian antiquities. Though they first appeared in the late Old Kingdom (roughly 2575–2130 B.C.), scarabs remained rare until Middle Kingdom times (circa 1938-1600 B.C.) when they were fashioned in great numbers. While some were used as ornaments, others were purely amuletic in purpose. The seal type of scarab was, however, the most common, and many clay seals have been found attesting to this use. However, this gorgeous scarab bears no inscription on its base. Therefore it was most likely an amulet. Perhaps the owner would have carried it around in order to secure protection from evil forces. Perhaps the object was simply a decorative ornament for we can easily appreciate its tremendous beauty and the expertise of its workmanship. Overall, the scarab is a potent symbol for the glories of Ancient Egypt as a whole. In our hands, we hold a tangible reminder of the mythology, religion, and funeral rites of this civilization that continue to fascinate mankind even today. - (PF.5818)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x 1.75" (4.4cm) wide x 2.875" (7.3cm) depth Collection: Egyptian Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Green  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x 1.75" (4.4cm) wide x 2.875" (7.3cm) depth Collection: Egyptian Style: 26th Dynasty Medium: Green Jasper By far the most important amulet in ancient Egypt was the scarab, symbolically as sacred to the Egyptians as the cross is to Christians. Based upon the dung beetle, this sacred creature forms a ball of dung around its semen and rolls it in a large ball over the sand dropping it into its burrow. The female lays her eggs on the ground and covers them with the excrement ball that is consumed by the larvae who emerge in the following days as if miraculously reborn. In the life cycle of the beetle, the Ancient Egyptians envisioned a microcosm of the daily rebirth of the sun. They imagined the ancient sun god Khepri was a great scarab beetle rolling the sun across the heavens. The scarab also became a symbol of the enduring human soul as well, hence its frequent appearance in funerary art. Scarabs of various materials form an important class of Egyptian antiquities. Such objects usually have the bottoms inscribed with designs, simultaneously functioning as both amulets and seals. Though they first appeared in the late Old Kingdom (roughly 2575–2130 B.C.), scarabs remained rare until Middle Kingdom times (circa 1938-1600 B.C.) when they were fashioned in great numbers. This specific type of scarab, called a “heart scarab” is one of the most fascinating types. During the mummification process, all the major organ would be removed and place in canopic jars. This imposing amulet would have been placed on the throat of the mummy, on the chest, or over the heart as a substitute. Some were worn by the deceased on a chain or a cord, hung around the neck, or mounted in a gold setting as a pectoral. Clearly, the spiritual importance of such is evident. The heart of the deceased would be reborn in the afterlife just as the Egyptians thought the offspring of the beetle emerged from the ball of dung and just as the sun was reborn each day, dragged across the sky by the great scarab god Khepri. Overall, the scarab is a potent symbol for the glories of Ancient Egypt as a whole. In our hands, we hold a tangible reminder of the mythology, religion, and funeral rites of this civilization that continue to fascinate mankind even today. - (X.0207)   « Less

Origin: Near East Circa: 1640 BC to 1500 BC Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Art Style: Middle Bronze Age IIB Medium: green jasper The ancient  More »

Origin: Near East Circa: 1640 BC to 1500 BC Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Art Style: Middle Bronze Age IIB Medium: green jasper The ancient Egyptians maintained that the sun was propelled across the heavens by means of a scarab, or sacred beetle. With the passing of time, the Egyptians created a series of amulets in the form of this beetle in a great variety of materials, and these were routinely provided with inscriptions in hieroglyphs conveniently accommodated to their stylized flat bottoms. So popular was the scarab that it became the one amulet associated with Egypt by all of her neighbors, and local variations were created in imitation of the Egyptian model. Our scarab is just such a variation. Created in green jasper, the artist has simplified the beetle’s upper body so that there is no division between its thorax and elytra, or wing case, although he has attempted to suggest their division by means of an incised dash along each vertical side of the beetle’s body. The beetle’s head is suggested by the arrangement of the two oblique incisions which likewise separate it from the plate while the clypeus is indicated by series of incised dashes.   « Less

Egyptian Scarab - LO.1117

Egyptian Scarab - LO.1117   « Less

Origin: Israel, Lebanon, Palestine Circa: 1650 BC to 1000 BC Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Canaanite Medium: Steatite The  More »

Origin: Israel, Lebanon, Palestine Circa: 1650 BC to 1000 BC Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Canaanite Medium: Steatite The ancient Egyptians maintained that the sun was propelled across the heavens by means of a scarab, or sacred beetle. With the passing of time, the Egyptians created a series of amulets in the form of this beetle in a great variety of materials, and these were routinely provided with inscriptions in hieroglyphs conveniently accommodated to their stylized flat bottoms. So popular was the scarab that it became the one amulet associated with Egypt by all of her neighbors, and local variations were created in imitation of the Egyptian model. Our scarab is just such a variation, and may be termed a scaraboid inasmuch as the entomological details of the beetle have been completely suppressed. The base is framed by a braided surround, or guilloche, within which appears to be a beetle propelling the sun disc across the heavens. The design of this beetle, however, includes a tail, or stinger, suggesting that the artist has conflated the body of beetle with that of a scorpion. The talismanic character of such a design is evident because our scaraboid is pierced transversely in order to accommodate it as a pendant to be worn on a necklace, thus protecting its owner from malevolent forces.   « Less

Origin: Egypt Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian antiquities Style: Third Intermediate Period, Dyn. XXI The ancient Egyptians maintained that the sun  More »

Origin: Egypt Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian antiquities Style: Third Intermediate Period, Dyn. XXI The ancient Egyptians maintained that the sun was propelled across the heavens by means of a scarab, or sacred beetle. With the passing of time, the Egyptians created a series of amulets in the form of this beetle in a great variety of materials, and these were routinely provided with inscriptions in hieroglyphs conveniently accommodated to their stylized flat bottoms. This amulet in the form of a scarab is one of several Egyptian variations on the theme. The body of the beetle is stylized to the extent that the details of the head, plate, and clypeus are confined to a single zone and rely on a few ornamentally incised strokes for their articulation. The base of our scarab is divided into three vertical zones, the center of which contains a cartouche, or royal ring, with three hieroglyphs spelling the personal name, Men-kheper-Re. To the left, with wings outstretched in a gesture of protection is a serpent associated with two hieroglyphs forming the formulaic phrase, “true of voice,” which habitually accompanies the name of the deceased in funerary contexts. To the right are a series of hieroglyphs which may be translated as, “the Good God, the Lord of the Two Lands.”   « Less

Origin: Egypt Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian antiquities Style: Middle Kingdom, Dyn. XII The ancient Egyptians maintained that the sun was propelled  More »

Origin: Egypt Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian antiquities Style: Middle Kingdom, Dyn. XII The ancient Egyptians maintained that the sun was propelled across the heavens by means of a scarab, or sacred beetle. With the passing of time, the Egyptians created a series of amulets in the form of this beetle in a great variety of materials, and these were routinely provided with inscriptions in hieroglyphs conveniently accommodated to their stylized flat bottoms. This amulet in the form of a scarab is one of several Egyptian variations on the theme. The body of the beetle is stylized to the extent that the details of the head, plate, and clypeus are confined to a single zone and rely on a few ornamentally incised strokes for their articulation. The bottom of our scarab is decorated with numerous hieroglyphs arranged into the field in a rather free-flowing design which observes, but not rigorously, certain zones. At the top, arranged obliquely in conformity with the oval contour of the scarab, are two confronted uraei, or sacred cobras, flanking an ankh-sign. Beneath their coiled bodies to the left and right is a sun disc with pendant cobra. The central image is a falcon, facing right, wearing the Red Crown and flanked on either side by a nefer-sign. Two vertical emblems of the goddess Bat close the composition at the bottom and these stand on a neb-sign, or basket, on the top center of which appears the hieroglyph for the sun rising at dawn.   « Less