Object Description
A very fine Ancient Egyptian steatite scaraboid amulet featuring a hieroglyphic inscription to the base. The amulet is oval in shape, emulating the form of a cowrie shell, featuring a smooth convex obverse. The sides are decorated with three, linear engravings, the central of which is hatched. The flat reverse is incised with an uraeus, ????, in the left register with wings opening to the right, adorned with hatched incisions. Then follows a depiction of the goddess Ma’at, portrayed crouching and holding a feather. The hieroglyph of Ma’at can represent the goddess but equally, the qualities she represents, such as justice or truth. Above her head is the sun sign, ????, Re, and to her right, the pestle, ????, ti, and basket symbol, ????, neb, meaning ‘Lord’. The stone features a lovely beige and dark grey colouration with natural striations of white, black and cream. The amulet is perforated longitudinally for suspension.
Date: Circa 1550-1070 BC
Period: New Kingdom Period