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Wah's jewelry
Thebes, tomb of Wah, early Dynasty 12, ca. 1985 B.C.
Faience, silver, gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, and other semiprecious stones;
collar necklace, w. 15 1/4 in.
Rogers Fund, 1940
40.3.1-19

In ancient Egypt both men and women wore jewelry for adornment, magical protection, and as a symbol of status. Broad collar necklaces must have been particularly popular because from the earliest times they are worn by the principal figures in sculpture and wall paintings. Wah, however, could not have worn the turquoise-colored broad collar in life because there is no clasp and the ties are not strong enough to hold it on. It was made of many faience beads specifically for his burial and was simply placed on the front of the mummy while it was being wrapped.

Although Wah was only a minor official he possessed one gold and one silver necklace as well as three scarabs. The two silver scarabs are, in fact, among the finest extant from Egypt. Scarabs, often found in burials, are magic symbols of renewed life. They are beetle-shaped amulets that the Egyptians associated with rebirth because they saw how beetles of this species roll balls of dung, from which newborn beetles emerge. The flat undersides of the amulets were also used as seals. Many--especially in the Middle Kingdom--are incised with names and titles of officials. These designs were pressed into wet mud that was used to seal boxes, bags, and letters. Wah's large silver scarab is inlaid on the wings with Wah's name and that of Meketre, whose property he administered. On the underside a scroll design with the hieroglyphs for life and protection could be used for sealing. Before Wah's silver scarabs were placed with his mummy their heads were destroyed by grinding. This was done either to protect the deceased from insect bites or to "kill" the beetles and so ensure that they would follow the deceased into the afterlife.

Notice: types of jewelry, where on the body they were worn, variety of materials

Discuss: function, symbolism

Compare with: Statuette of an offering bearer, Pectoral of Princess Sithathoryunet, Canopic jar with a lid in the shape of a royal woman's head, Coffin of a Middle Kingdom official, and Yuny and his wife, Renenutet

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