Scarab Inscribed with Hieroglyphs in Rope Border

Second Intermediate Period

ca. 1700–1600 B.C. (Middle Bronze Age IIB)

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109

A decorative rope border surrounds an oval (a debased version of the royal cartouche) containing hieroglyphs. The signs do not form words or a royal name, but are chosen for their protective value. The finely incised branches that decorate the back of the scarab are characteristic for Canaanite scarabs of the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1700-1500 B.C.). Such scarabs often imitate Egyptian Middle Kingdom models, but do not always correctly render the hieroglyphs or symbols.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Scarab Inscribed with Hieroglyphs in Rope Border
Period: Second Intermediate Period
Date: ca. 1700–1600 B.C. (Middle Bronze Age IIB)
Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, Cemetery, MMA excavations
Medium: Glazed steatite
Dimensions: L. 2.1 × W. 1.5 × Diam. 0.8 cm (13/16 × 9/16 × 5/16 in.)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922
Object Number: 22.1.426
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

In the same gallery

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Jug Decorated with Dolphins and Birds, Pottery, manganese black, gypsum fill — Jug Decorated with Dolphins and Birds
ca. 1750–1550 B.C.

Ritual Scene with Senwosret I, Limestone, paint — Ritual Scene with Senwosret I
ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Relief showing procession of offering bearers, Limestone, paint — Relief showing procession of offering bearers
ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Name Panels from the Inner Wall of Senwosret I's Pyramid Complex, Limestone — Name Panels from the Inner Wall of Senwosret I's Pyramid Complex
ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Seated Statue of the Steward Sehetepibreankh, Limestone — Seated Statue of the Steward Sehetepibreankh
ca. 1919–1885 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.