Object Description
A beautiful, black hardstone, Egyptian scarab with incised hieroglyphs to the reverse. The obverse is finely decorated with fine, crisp anatomical details. The scarab features a moulded head and clypeus. The prothorax and elytra are formed from single, inscribed, lines. The feet of the scarab are deeply carved.
The reverse features a neatly carved scene, with a cartouche to the centre. Within the cartouche are three clear hieroglyphs. To the bottom is the ‘ka’ (kꜣ) sign, displayed as raised arms. Above this is the familiar ‘mn’ senet board sign, followed by a circular ‘re’ (rꜥ) sun disc. Together these three signs form the name Menkare (mn-kꜣw-rꜥ). The cartouche is flanked by two undulating uraei. Above the cartouche is a recumbent sphinx, with two small sun disc interspersed within the remaining space.
The amulet is pierced longitudinally for suspension.
Date: Circa 664 – 332 BC
Period: Late Period