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Source Description
This steatite scarab has a flat underside with a vertically and horizontally arranged design of spiral scrolls. The design on the back of the scarab is detailed, with incised lines and regular flow. The proportions of the top are unbalanced, the piece is carefully made, and the workmanship is good. This scarab would have functioned as an amulet with renewal connotations, and should provide extensive and all-inclusive renewal. The piece would originally have been mounted or threaded. Spiral scrolls on scarabs were very popular in the Middle Kingdom and in the Hyksos Period. The meaning of the pattern is not clear, but it seems most likely that it expresses renewal and general support.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
27190
label
Scarab with Geometric Spirals
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
4
Source metadata
id
27190
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Scarab with Geometric Spirals
description
This steatite scarab has a flat underside with a vertically and horizontally arranged design of spiral scrolls. The design on the back of the scarab is detailed, with incised lines and regular flow. The proportions of the top are unbalanced, the piece is carefully made, and the workmanship is good. This scarab would have functioned as an amulet with renewal connotations, and should provide extensive and all-inclusive renewal. The piece would originally have been mounted or threaded. Spiral scrolls on scarabs were very popular in the Middle Kingdom and in the Hyksos Period. The meaning of the pattern is not clear, but it seems most likely that it expresses renewal and general support.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1911(?) [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by beqest.
date
1794-1648 BCE (Late Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 13; MB IIB)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Precious Stones & Gems
scarabs
amulets
imageCount
4
pageCount
4
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
1.1
height
1.5
depth
2.1
dimensionsRaw
H: 7/16 x W: 9/16 x L: 13/16 in. (1.1 x 1.5 x 2.1 cm)
Source extras
cul
Egyptian
dynasty
13th Dynasty
med
light beige steatite with green-blue glaze
creator_ids
6182
15541
collection_ids
EGY
ANE
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
4ddc93614bbd1da9
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
a6c6675c1c0d2109
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
17c18a5421eb567c
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
7f5f032386b14c04
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no