Scarab with blessing related to Ptah

New Kingdom

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 130

The base of this scarab bears hieroglyphs forming a blessing. Scarabs bearing wishes and blessings related to divinities whose protection individuals wished to summon are particular popular during the (late) New Kingdom and the Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1295-664 B.C.).

Excavated examples of this particular type of blessing, related to the god Ptah, have been found in archaeological contexts dated to the Ramesside Period (Dynasty 19-20, ca. 1295-1070 B.C.). The inscription runs vertically, begins in the upper right corner and runs down to the bottom after which it continues on the left, under the name of Ptah placed in the upper left corner.

Scarab with blessing related to Ptah, Glazed steatite

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Scarab with blessing related to Ptah, Glazed steatite
Scarab with blessing related to Ptah, Glazed steatite
Scarab with blessing related to Ptah, Glazed steatite
Scarab with blessing related to Ptah, Glazed steatite

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