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Human-face Scarab with Sphinx and Hieroglyphs

New Kingdom

ca. 1295–1070 B.C.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109

The underside of this scarab shows a recumbent human-headed sphinx, wearing a nemes-headcloth with a uraeus on the front. The sphinx is a popular motif on scarabs, especially during the New Kingdom and the Late Period, and embodies the pharaoh. Here it holds a seated figure of the goddess Maat in his front paws, while a sun disk is placed above, and below the sphinx the sign of endurance (djed) is flanked by two uraei.
On the back, a single line divides the wing cases of the scarab, but a human face with ribbed head band replaces the head and shoulders of the beetle. The earliest examples of human-face scarabs date to the late Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1850-1550 B.C.) but they are also well attested during the late New Kingdom.

Human-face Scarab with Sphinx and Hieroglyphs, Dark green glazed steatite — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Human-face Scarab with Sphinx and Hieroglyphs, Dark green glazed steatite

Human-face Scarab with Sphinx and Hieroglyphs, Dark green glazed steatite

Human-face Scarab with Sphinx and Hieroglyphs, Dark green glazed steatite

Human-face Scarab with Sphinx and Hieroglyphs, Dark green glazed steatite

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Title: Human-face Scarab with Sphinx and Hieroglyphs

Period: New Kingdom

Dynasty: Dynasty 19–20 (Ramesside)

Date: ca. 1295–1070 B.C.

Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, Cemetery, debris, MMA excavations, 1920–22

Medium: Dark green glazed steatite

Dimensions: L. 1.7 × W. 1.3 × H. 0.9 cm (11/16 × 1/2 × 3/8 in.)

Credit Line: Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922

Accession Number: 22.1.360

Chronology

Egypt, 2000-1000 B.C.

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The Met's collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 26,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from the Paleolithic to the Roman period.