Scarab Inscribed with Hieroglyphs

Middle Kingdom

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109

The scarab is inscribed with papyrus plants flanking hieroglyphs, not meant to form words but chosen instead for their positive meaning.
Symmetric compositions are particularly prevalent on design scarabs of the late Middle Kingdom (late Dynasty 12–Dynasty 13, ca. 1850 –1640 B.C.). They serve as models for the wide array of variations seen on Egyptian scarabs of the Second Intermediate Period (Dynasty 14–17, ca. 1640–1550 B.C.) and on Canaanite scarabs (Middle Bronze Age IIB-IIC, ca. 1700–1500 B.C.).

Scarab Inscribed with Hieroglyphs, Green glazed steatite

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