A jewelry element in the form of an inlaid bee

Middle Kingdom
ca. 1887–1750 BC
Not on view
This ornament depicts a bee sipping at a flower(?). The insect's wings were once positioned as if the bee had just settled. The three dimensional nature of this ornament is unusual as most ancient Egyptian jewelry was flat or created from flat pieces. Is seems likely that this accessory was for the hair or an element of an elaborate hair ornament like a diadem.

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Jewelry from the Haraga Treasure, United at the Met

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: A jewelry element in the form of an inlaid bee
  • Period: Middle Kingdom
  • Date: ca. 1887–1750 BC
  • Geography: From Egypt, Fayum Entrance Area, Haraga, Cemetery A, Tomb 124, British School of Archaeology in Egypt excavations, 1913–14
  • Medium: Silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and turquoise
  • Dimensions: L. 2.9 × H. 2.1 × D. 2.3 cm (1 1/8 × 13/16 × 7/8 in.)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2014
  • Object Number: 2014.619.6
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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