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Source Description
This scaraboid faience amulet is inscribed on the bottom with the name and title of the divine consort Shepenwepet. The top is carved with the three-dimensional representation of a cat facing the right with the head turned to the front. The workmanship is a little rough, but detailed. This piece functioned as an individualized amulet of the Divine Consort Shepenwepet II, and was originally mounted or threaded. The image of a cat with kittens conveys the idea of fertility, renewal, and protection, and the name of Shepenwepet the individualization. The amulet should secure the divine status, royal authority of the "Divine Consort," as well as her presence and renewal. It is possible that the amulet was created for the personal use of Shepenwepet, but it is also likely that it was given to a private person to guarantee her patronage. The identification of the lying animal as a cat is possible by posture, content and comparision, but the round shapes of the ears are a litttle uncommon and seem more canine. Nevertheless, the attitude of the animal, and the context make identification as cat most likely.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
24458
label
Scarab with Cat and Title of Shepenwepet
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
9
Source metadata
id
24458
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Scarab with Cat and Title of Shepenwepet
description
This scaraboid faience amulet is inscribed on the bottom with the name and title of the divine consort Shepenwepet. The top is carved with the three-dimensional representation of a cat facing the right with the head turned to the front. The workmanship is a little rough, but detailed. This piece functioned as an individualized amulet of the Divine Consort Shepenwepet II, and was originally mounted or threaded. The image of a cat with kittens conveys the idea of fertility, renewal, and protection, and the name of Shepenwepet the individualization. The amulet should secure the divine status, royal authority of the "Divine Consort," as well as her presence and renewal. It is possible that the amulet was created for the personal use of Shepenwepet, but it is also likely that it was given to a private person to guarantee her patronage. The identification of the lying animal as a cat is possible by posture, content and comparision, but the round shapes of the ears are a litttle uncommon and seem more canine. Nevertheless, the attitude of the animal, and the context make identification as cat most likely.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 700-656 BCE (Third Intermediate-Late Period)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Precious Stones & Gems
scarabs
amulets
imageCount
9
pageCount
9
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
0.9
height
1.4
depth
1.8
dimensionsRaw
H: 3/8 x W: 9/16 x L: 11/16 in. (0.9 x 1.4 x 1.8 cm)
Source extras
cul
Egyptian
inscriptions
[Translation] Name with cartouche and titles of the Divine Consort of Amun: Shepenwepet: Divine consort
divine worshipper: / Shep-en-wepet.
dynasty
25th-26th Dynasty
reign
Shabako (715-700 BC), Psammetichus I (664-10 BC)
med
light beige faience with green-blue glaze
creator_ids
6182
collection_ids
EGY
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
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type
photo
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hasDescription
no