Scarab with Uraeus and Sacred Beetle
A large cobra wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt faces right, while behind her a dung beetle pushes a sun disk forward between its fore legs. The uraeus (aroused cobra) is closely associated with the pharaoh, whereas the scarab refers to the sun god. A snake with royal crown may represent the goddess Wadjet, although she usually wears the Red Crow. Alternatively, she represents the goddess Nekhbet, who is sometimes depicted as a cobra wearing the White Crown, because the iconography of the two goddesses became intertwined as they are both closely connected with royal imagery and often appear together. Combined, these symbols call for divine and royal protection for the owner of the seal-amulet.
Artwork Details
- Title: Scarab with Uraeus and Sacred Beetle
- Period: Third Intermediate Period
- Date: ca. 945–664 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Steatite
- Dimensions: L. 1.4 × W. 1 cm (9/16 × 3/8 in.)
- Credit Line: Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
- Object Number: 10.130.709
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
4th century B.C.
360–343 BCE
278–270 B.C.
690–610 B.C.
300–250 B.C.
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.