Scarab

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A scarab is an ancient Egyptian amulet in the form of a dung beetle, symbolic of regeneration. As time went on, scarabs developed into use as personal seals. This example of glazed steatite is probably from Palestine. It dates from the 2nd Intermediate Period or early New Kingdom (around 1759 to 1295 BC).

This picture shows the base of the scarab. It has been incised with a hieroglyphic motif.

Egyptian hieroglyphs were pictures representing objects or sounds. They were sacred symbols, and closely linked to religion. Complicated and difficult to write, different scripts were developed over time for legal and administrative writing and for daily use.

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-607-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1965.148
• Date: 2nd Intermediate Period or early New Kingdom (around 1759 to 1295 BC)
  2nd Intermediate Period, 15th - 16th Dynasty
  
• Material:
• Dimensions: 0.81" L
  
• What:
• Subject: Scarabs
  
• Who:
• Where: Ancient Egypt, Palestine
  
• Event:
• Description: Scarab, green-glazed steatite, incised on base with hieroglyphic motif: base: Probably of Palestinian origin, Ancient Egyptian, 2nd Intermediate Period or early New Kingdom
  
• References:
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