The image of the scarab beetle (Scarabeus sacer) is prominent in the royal funerary decoration of the New Kingdom (about 1550-1070 BC). After laying its eggs in a ball of dung, the scarab beetle rolls the ball before it wherever it goes. When the young beetles hatch they appear, apparently miraculously, from the dung. Thus to the ancient Egyptia...
The image of the scarab beetle (Scarabeus sacer) is prominent in the royal funerary decoration of the New Kingdom (about 1550-1070 BC). After laying its eggs in a ball of dung, the scarab beetle rolls the ball before it wherever it goes. When the young beetles hatch they appear, apparently miraculously, from the dung. Thus to the ancient Egyptians the scarab beetle was a symbol of rebirth and represents the god Khepri, who was thought to push the sun disc through the morning sky, as a scarab beetle pushes its ball of dung.
The scarab beetle was also an important amulet. It first appeared during the Old Kingdom (about 2613-2160 BC), and was often used as a seal, mounted on a ring, with an inscription on the flat underside. This use was extended to a funerary context during the Middle Kingdom and later, in the form of the 'heart scarab': a stone amulet in the shape of a scarab placed over the heart of the mummy. This too was inscribed on its underside, with chapter thirty of the Book of the Dead, a spell that prevented the heart from speaking out against the deceased at his or her judgement.
Large heart scarab, made from limestone. With high back and good details of shield, legs and head. Flat smooth bottom, uninscribed. Size: 7,4 x 5 cm Material: Limestone Period: 25th- 30th Dynasty Provenance: Belgium private collection
Gold mounted crystal scarab, with hieroglyphs. Used to be set in a swivel ring. Original gold mounting. "Lord of the two lands, Men-Khepre-Ra" he royal surname of Thothmes III., king of the XVIIIth dynasty Size: 2,8 x 1,8 cm Material: Crystal roche/ gold Period: Late period Provenance: Belgium private collection
Light green naturalistic scarab. Size: 2,2 x 1,5 cm Material: Faience Period: Late Period Condition: Good, small chip tail,head repaired Provenance: German private collection, collected before 1980's
Scaraboid with two addorsed crocodiles, bottom inscribed with scarabs and plant symbols. Crocodiles, carved in high relief, with good details. Size: 1,8 cm Material: Steatite Period: Second Intermediate period Condition: Intact Provenance: Elias S. David ( 1891 - 1969) U.S.A.
Stone heart scarab with smooth bottom. Size: 3,3 cm Material: Stone Period: Late period Provenance: Belgium collection
Green serpentine heart scarab.
Steatite scarab with inscribed base. "Lord of the lands is good" Size: 1,5 cm Material: Steatite Period: 2nd Intermediate period Condition: very good Provenance: Belgium private collection
Large steatite scarab with inscribed base. Base shows 4 rearing cobra's, Cartouche of tuthmosis III with ankh for eternal life, And good wishes symbols in second cartouche. Size: 3 x 2 cm Period: New Kingdom Material: Steatite Condition: Very good Provenance: German private collection, before 1970's.
Scaraboid of a recumbent hippo with inscribed bottom. Underside with a hippo striding below a marsh plot. Size: 1,2 cm Period: second Intermediate period Material: steatite Condition: Very good Provenance: Elias David ( 1891-1968) U.S.A.
Large white steatite inscribed scarab. Underside inscribed with a winged sphinx on top of the prisoner, which has his hands bound on his back. On the right side a cartouche, with the throne name of Thutmosis III. Size: 4 x 2,8 cm Period: 3 rd Intermediate period material: Steatite Condition: base edge repaired Provenance: Belgium private collection,...
Limestone heart scarab, with smooth bottom. Size: 3,2 x 2,5 cm Period: Late Period, c. 664 - 332 B.C. Material: Stone Condition: Very good Provenance: Private Belgium collection
Rare light green scarab with good detail and in good condition, underside inscribed with the name of pharaoh Nebkara, of the third dynasty. Neb ka Ra Saqqara king list 45Petrie Scarabs, plate VIII (Dynasty III, 1-4) Size: 1.3 x 0.9 cm Period: Late Period, 730 - 332 B.C. Condition: Intact Provenance: Private English collection, North Yorkshire.