Scarab Incised with Hieroglyph and Papyrus

Second Intermediate Period

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109

Papyrus plants and other floral designs often decorate the underside of seal-amulets because they refer to life, renewal and regeneration. This scarab shows a three-stemmed papyrus plant with one straight stem flanked by two stems hanging down. The hieroglyph for good and beautiful (nefer) is placed above, reinforcing the positive power of the design.

Scarab Incised with Hieroglyph and Papyrus, Bright blue faience

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