Scarab Decorated with Scroll

Middle Kingdom

ca. 1981–1850 B.C.

Not on view

Scrolls and spirals –whether single or interlocking, or in combination with hieroglyphs or floral motifs– already decorate the earliest types of scarabs and are common throughout the first half of the second millennium B.C. While their meaning and source of inspiration remains unknown, scroll designs are also appealing to the eye. A wide variety of combinations, some of which more complex than others, is found on Egyptian scarabs of the Middle Kingdom and scrolls become particularly popular during late Dynasty 12 and Dynasty 13 (ca. 1850–1640 B.C.). While these designs continue to appear on scarabs in the Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1640–1550 B.C.) and on contemporary Canaanite imitations, details in the composition or on the scarab’s back or its legs allow the seal-amulet to be more precisely dated

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Scarab Decorated with Scroll
Period: Middle Kingdom
Dynasty: early Dynasty 12
Date: ca. 1981–1850 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, debris, MMA excavations, 1920–22
Medium: Steatite, traces of green glaze
Dimensions: L. 1.2 × W. 0.8 × H. 0.5 cm (7/16 × 5/16 × 3/16 in.)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922
Object Number: 22.1.398
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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Scarab with Inscription Referring to Osiris, Light greenish stone — Scarab with Inscription Referring to Osiris
ca. 1300–1080 BCE

Scarab inscribed with the name Menkheperre, Steatite, traces of green glaze — Scarab inscribed with the name Menkheperre
ca. 1200–945 BCE

Magical figure of captive, Travertine (Egyptian alabaster) — Magical figure of captive
ca. 1981–1650 B.C.

Scarab with Sobek and Uraei, Steatite, traces of green glaze — Scarab with Sobek and Uraei
ca. 1640–1500 B.C. (late Middle Bronze Age IIB-IIC)

Scarab of an Official, Green glazed steatite — Scarab of an Official
ca. 1760–1670 B.C.

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