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Source Description
This steatite scarab has a flat underside with a vertically and horizontally arranged design with the combination of two lower Egyptian crowns and four cobras with raised upper bodies on baskets. The design of the back is detailed with finely incised lines and regular line flow. The proportions of the top are well balanced. The piece is simply made with good workmanship. The scarab functioned as an amulet with kingship connotations. The amulet refers to all-inclusive divine protection, royal power, and perfection. The red crown symbolizes not only the royal aspect but also magical power, and strengthens the protective function of the amulet. The scarab originally would have been mounted or threaded.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
16939
label
Scarab with Crowns and Cobras Design
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
5
Source metadata
id
16939
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Scarab with Crowns and Cobras Design
description
This steatite scarab has a flat underside with a vertically and horizontally arranged design with the combination of two lower Egyptian crowns and four cobras with raised upper bodies on baskets. The design of the back is detailed with finely incised lines and regular line flow. The proportions of the top are well balanced. The piece is simply made with good workmanship. The scarab functioned as an amulet with kingship connotations. The amulet refers to all-inclusive divine protection, royal power, and perfection. The red crown symbolizes not only the royal aspect but also magical power, and strengthens the protective function of the amulet. The scarab originally would have been mounted or threaded.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1929 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1794-1539 BCE (Late Middle Kingdom-Second Intermediate Period; MB IIB)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Precious Stones & Gems
scarabs
amulets
imageCount
5
pageCount
5
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
0.9
height
1.3
depth
1.9
dimensionsRaw
H: 3/8 x W: 1/2 x L: 3/4 in. (0.9 x 1.3 x 1.9 cm)
Source extras
cul
Egyptian
inscriptions
[Inscription] Combination of two lower Egyptian crowns
four cobras with raised upper body on baskets
and two nfr-signs (""perfection"").
dynasty
13th-15th Dynasty
med
light brown steatite with blue-green glaze
creator_ids
6182
15541
collection_ids
EGY
ANE
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
92df747b48a76925
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
70fbb2eba1bdec7f
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
e080334db3a8f37e
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
c0a93030bcc136b1
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
5
type
photo
mediaId
3f8b60f9fd3a75ba
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no