Object Description
An Egyptian, turquoise-glazed steatite scaraboid with a decorated reverse. The reverse features a set of four hieroglyphs, possibly indicating a royal title. The largest of the three signs is an insect, depicting a bee. It has large oval wings and a segmented body. To its right is a stylised, floral hieroglyph, known as a sedge plant. To the left of the bee is a small, round sun disc. Together these signs refer to the ‘nswt-bjtj’ title of the pharaoh, or King of Upper and Lower Egypt. The literal translation would ‘He of the Sedge and the Bee’. The last sign is a ‘neb’ basket sign, acting as a filler hieroglyph to fill the decorative space. An incised border encircles the hieroglyphs.
Date: Circa 664 – 332 BC
Period: Late Period