Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun

New Kingdom

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 130

The scarab is carved with a scene invoking solar symbolism, showing a pair of baboons on either side of an obelisk. The obelisk stands for the sun god, who is present also in the form of a solar barque at the top of the design. Additional sun disks are placed on either side of the obelisk. The baboons represent the god Thoth, as indicated by the lunar disks resting in crescents –symbolizing the moon’s phases– above their heads.

Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun, Glazed steatite

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Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun, Glazed steatite
Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun, Glazed steatite
Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun, Glazed steatite
Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun, Glazed steatite
Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun, Glazed steatite
Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun, Glazed steatite
Scarab with Baboons of Thoth Adoring Amun, Glazed steatite

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