Object Description
An ancient Phoenician-Egyptian steatite scarab encased in an elaborate gold mount with a garnet stone. To the top, the mount presents a hammered-dot design, now with sections missing. At the centre a garnet inset enriches the piece and is framed with gold granules sporadically placed. The sides are decorated with a band of larger gold granules set between two encircling ridges. The reverse of the scarab displays parts of the gold mount used to hold the scarab beetle in place however, some of the edges are now chipped away. The flat side of the steatite scarab presents the hieroglyph of a large scarab beetle (ḫpr, kheper) meaning being/form. The piece has been perforated longitudinally for suspension and is further embellished with a ring of gold granules on either end of the perforation.
Date: Circa 6th-4th Century BC