Egyptian Steatite Scarab Dedicated to Thutmose III

Object Description

A very fine Late Period steatite scarab featuring a cartouche with the royal- name of Thutmose III. The obverse displays a detailed head and clypeus, with incised double lines sectioning the elytra. The flat reverse features clear incised hieroglyphs. First two hieroglyphs on the right are the ‘hst’ water vessel, meaning ‘praise’ and the Ra-Horus holding a flaggellum. This combination probably is to be understood as a blessing or invocation related to ‘Lord Ra-Horakhty’, ‘Ra (who is) Horus of the Horizons’. To the left is a vertically arranged cartouche containing a circular sun disc: re, followed by the draught board ‘men’ sign, culminating in the scarab ‘kheper’ sign. These signs combined form the throne name of Thutmose III – Men-Kheper-re. The sign group is completed by the ‘neb’ basket hieroglyph on the left. The scarab is pierced longitudinally for suspension.

Date: Circa 664-332 BC
Period: Late Period

Object Condition

Good condition. There is a chip to the lower left edge of the elytra. A chip to the right-hand side of the clypeus. The reverse is whole and the hieroglyphs are clear. A hairline crack runs horizontally down the reverse but doesn’t obscure the inscription.

Object Details