By far the most important amulet in ancient Egypt was the scarab, symbolically as sacred to the Egyptians as the cross is to Christians.
The underside of the abdomen, or flat side, of the scarabs was usually inscribed with the names of pharaohs and officials, private names, magical mottos, formulae, volute designs and other patterns, images of deities, sacred animals, and religious symbols.
Scarabs were a common form of "charm" which everyone could afford and easily wear strung on a cord on their person. Most scarabs were made for the living. The small magical object was believed imbued with particular protective powers that warded off evil and provided good things for the owner for this life and also for the next, particularly when sewn to mummy wrappings.
Although scarabs are known from the earliest periods, it is in the 12th dynasty that their use as seals became common. The great majority of scarab seals were quite small, generally measuring around three-quarters of an inch long by half-an-inch wide and about a quarter of an inch high.
It is my pleasure to present to you the following scarabs. Most have been translated and all are a wonderful piece of history.
Scarabs page 1 [ without thumbnail images ]
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Egyptian Winged
Scarab,
Faience,
25th - 26th Dynasties, 746 - 525 B.C. length: 46 mm (scarab only) 119 mm (with wings) width: 37 mm An interesting example of the fabled pectoral or winged scarab. The body of this very large scarab has gone mostly brown with age but there are still traces of the original blue glaze present. It has a naturalistic style obverse and the normal blank reverse. The wings show a bit more of their original glaze and a cloth weave pattern. One has a stable age crack. Each wing has three holes, two to attach to the scarab and one to attach it to the mummy wraps. Winged scarabs are extremely rare and costly. This specimen, although purchased as a unit, is probably a composite of two or three originals. Even so, it would make a fine addition to any collection. See "Khepereru Scarabs" number 199 for similar. |
$595.00 |
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Scarab, Carnelian, Canaanite, 18th - 19th dynasty length: 18.5 mm width: 13.5 mm Beautiful carnelian scarab with plain base. The specimen is longitudinally pierced-through for attachment to amulet jewelry or mummy wrappings. Petrie type T, 71 (var.). See Rowe 426 for similar. ex. Part of a hoard unearthed in Palestine and southern Israel, legally exported through Jerusalem. |
$395.00 |
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Scarab, Steatite,
Canaanite,
18th - 19th dynasty, length: 13.19 mm width: 9.42 mm “(r nh hr nfr) ra ankh horus nefer – Life to king Horus.” Petrie type V, pl LXX, 27. ex. Part of a hoard unearthed in Palestine and southern Israel, legally exported through Jerusalem. |
$275.00 |
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Scarab, Amethyst, Canaanite, 18th - 19th dynasty length: 21.0 mm width: 16.0 mm Beautiful amethyst scarab with plain base. The specimen is longitudinally pierced-through for attachment to amulet jewelry or mummy wrappings. Petrie type Y, 80 (var.). See Rowe 426 for similar. ex. Part of a hoard unearthed in Palestine and southern Israel, legally exported through Jerusalem. |
$495.00 |
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Scarab, Steatite
with black glaze,
Canaanite, 18th - 19th dynasty, length: 20.24 mm width: 13.67 mm (nh r’ nfr) ankh ra nefer – life to the gods” doubled. Petrie type E, pl. LX., 88 (var.) Nice scrollwork on top and some glaze left on face. Small chip on face and the hole is still filled with bronze from when the piece was part of a ring. ex. Part of a hoard unearthed in Palestine and southern Israel, legally exported through Jerusalem. |
$175.00 |
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Scarab, Steatite,
Upper Egyptian/Palastine,
19th dynasty length: 22.0 mm width: 16.0 mm King wearing the khepersh blue helmet and kilt and solar disk above. There are some partially defaced hieroglyphs to his front. Back is well worn but is ornate.
More research is needed on this rare piece. for similar see Rowe, #693
- 694. Providence: Part of a old collection in Beirut, collected in the 1950s. |
$295.00 |
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Scarab, Steatite,
Canaanite, 18th - 19th dynasty length: 19.03 mm width: 14.37 mm Sphinx in the form of a lion with the head of a ram wearing a double plumed crown and two uraei attached. To r. (m’t) ma’at – truth. To l. winged Ra in the form of a falcon man. Petrie type F, pl. LXI, 24. See Rowe 635 for similar. ex. Part of a hoard unearthed in Palestine and southern Israel, legally exported through Jerusalem. |
$165.00 |
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Scarab, Steatite,
Lower Egypt/Canaanite, 18th - 19th dynasty length: 19.0 mm width: 13.0 mm Falcon (representing the ruler Horus) with Uraeus in front and behind, all inside a rope boarder. Nice piece with good style. A bit of original glaze on side and minor chip to rope boarder. ex. Part of a hoard unearthed in Palestine and southern Israel, legally exported through Jerusalem. |
$245.00 |
