Scarab Inscribed with Blessing Related to Amun
Scarabs bearing wishes and blessings related to divinities whose protection individuals wished to summon are particular popular during the late New Kingdom and the Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1295-664 B.C.). Given the limited surface on scarab bases, seal carvers were often very creative in using as few hieroglyphs and signs as possible in order to convey their message.
This scarab calls for the protection of the sun god Amun, referred to by the oval hieroglyph for island "iw" surrounding a horizontal stroke representing the water "n". According to ancient Egyptian cryptography, the oval with water line forms the name of the god Amun. Cryptographic writing makes use of standard signs’ atypical values and introduces alternative signs based on such principles as acrophony, generally with the objective to form divine names. The eye at the top warns us that Amun is watchful, and we learn from the entire inscription that he watches over the amulet’s owner every day.
This scarab calls for the protection of the sun god Amun, referred to by the oval hieroglyph for island "iw" surrounding a horizontal stroke representing the water "n". According to ancient Egyptian cryptography, the oval with water line forms the name of the god Amun. Cryptographic writing makes use of standard signs’ atypical values and introduces alternative signs based on such principles as acrophony, generally with the objective to form divine names. The eye at the top warns us that Amun is watchful, and we learn from the entire inscription that he watches over the amulet’s owner every day.
Artwork Details
- Title: Scarab Inscribed with Blessing Related to Amun
- Period: New Kingdom–Third Intermediate Period
- Dynasty: Dynasty 19–25
- Date: ca. 1295–664 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Faience
- Dimensions: L. 1.5 × W. 1.1 cm (9/16 × 7/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
- Object Number: 10.130.572
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
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ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
ca. 1961–1878 B.C.
332–30 BCE
332–30 BCE
332–30 BCE
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