Scarab with the Representation of a Sphinx

New Kingdom

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 122

The underside of the scarab shows a stylized representation of a recumbent human-headed sphinx, wearing a crown. A vertical motif in front of the creature probably represents a uraeus (the aroused cobra), while a vulture flies above. The scene refers to divine kingship because the sphinx is one of the animals that symbolizes the king. This is emphasized by the presence of the uraeus and the vulture, which are closely related to the pharaoh as representations of the titulary goddesses of Lower and Upper Egypt, Wadjet and Nekhbet.

Scarab with the Representation of a Sphinx, Green glazed steatite

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Scarab with the Representation of a Sphinx, Green glazed steatite
Scarab with the Representation of a Sphinx, Green glazed steatite
Scarab with the Representation of a Sphinx, Green glazed steatite
Scarab with the Representation of a Sphinx, Green glazed steatite

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