Heart Scarab

Third Intermediate Period–Late Period

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 130

Found with later intrusive burials in a Middle Kingdom tomb, this heart scarab was crudely inscribed with a portion of Spell 30 from the Book of the Dead, asking the heart not to bear witness against the deceased during the judgement before the god of the dead, Osiris. The lower part of the scarab is broken away so the name of the owner is missing. The scarab was pierced for stringing.

Heart Scarab, Slate

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Heart Scarab, Slate
Heart Scarab, Slate
Heart Scarab, Slate
Heart Scarab, Slate

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