Scarab

Middle Kingdom

ca. 1740–1640 B.C.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109

The underside of the scarab shows two Red Crowns of Lower Egypt flanking a pair of sa hieroglyphs, meaning protection.
Symmetric compositions of hieroglyphs with a positive meaning are very popular on scarab amulets during the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2030–1640 B.C.). Red Crowns, either facing each other or away from each other, are often combined with other royal symbols or with signs of protection, of health, or of life and renewal. The manner in which the back and sides of the scarab are carved are characteristic for scarabs of mid to late Dynasty 13 (ca. 1750–1640 B.C.), assigned to a workshop that was active in Avaris (present-day Tell el-Dab’a).

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Scarab
Period: Middle Kingdom
Dynasty: mid to late Dynasty 13
Date: ca. 1740–1640 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, Cemetery, MMA excavations
Medium: Blue glazed steatite
Dimensions: L. 1.9 × W. 1.3 × H. 0.7 cm (3/4 × 1/2 × 1/4 in.)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1920
Object Number: 20.1.106
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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