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

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

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

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.