Scarab, Mn-hpr-ra, Thutmose III
Production date
1549 BCE-1292 BCE
Country
Egypt
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Object detail
Description
Egyptian green coloured scarab beetle amulet. Heiroglyphic inscription on verso. Green glaze on a ceramic core or buff-orange stone base with green glaze. The cartouche attempts to spell Mn-hpr-ra, Thutmose III. The glyphs are filled with fine brown encrustations. The clypeus is diamond shaped and incised with five vertical lines. It sits below a very small triangular head and a large thorax. The elytra is divided unevenly in two, with triangular notches on each side near the thorax, and a larger triangle at the back. The legs are tucked under the body and decorated with lines indicating hairs. The whole scarab is pierced along the length of the body, but the hole is off-center. The edges of the top surface are extensively chipped showing the buff-orange stone beneath and there are oblique striations over the surface of the elytra and thorax.
The back face is inscribed, with wear all around the outside face and one large chip to the bottom, showing the pale stone substrate. On the right and left are marks that bear little resemblance to real glyphs. The carving overall is very rough with numerous chips below the glaze.
The back face is inscribed, with wear all around the outside face and one large chip to the bottom, showing the pale stone substrate. On the right and left are marks that bear little resemblance to real glyphs. The carving overall is very rough with numerous chips below the glaze.
Classification
ARCHAEOLOGY Egyptian amulet
Production date
1549 BCE-1292 BCE
Production place
Measurements
H7mm x W18mm x D14mm
Media/Materials description
Steatite
Green glaze on a ceramic core
?Faience (composed of quartz, alkaline salts [natron or plant ash], lime, and metallic mineral-based colorant)
Glaze (formed by alkali and lime reacting with silica to form the glaze)
Green glaze on a ceramic core
?Faience (composed of quartz, alkaline salts [natron or plant ash], lime, and metallic mineral-based colorant)
Glaze (formed by alkali and lime reacting with silica to form the glaze)
Signature/Marks
Heiroglyphic inscription possibly contains cartouche of Thutmose III, two lines indicating ruler of upper and lower Egypt, and glyph for justice.
History and use
Amulets, or charms, were favoured by the ancient Egyptians.The famous Egyptian scarabs were a common type of protective amulet (charm). This object was collected by a serviceman in World War 1, perhaps hoping it would offer protection from the perils of warfare.
In 1914 many thousands of men left Australia for Egypt, encountering landscapes and material culture completely unfamiliar to them. Men were trained in warfare at Mena Army Camp – against a surreal backdrop of ancient pyramids and the Sphinx. When not training, the men spent their spare time in local towns and at Cairo, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of an exotic eastern city. The men enjoyed sightseeing, climbing the pyramids, exploring temples, and acquired Egyptian ‘curios’ (in the parlance of the era -rare, unusual, intriguing objects) for themselves, at the request of friends and relatives, or as gifts for family – what would become the ‘bric-a-brac’ of war.
For the amateur soldier-archaeologist there were many opportunities to secure Egyptian antiquities. A short horse ride with a local guide to a rich gravesite, would secure a dozen scarabs after a few minutes of digging. Curios could be purchased from street sellers, authentic antiquities dug up from the desert sands, or faux objects ‘inspired’ by authentic pieces, such as large scarab paperweights.
Selling replicas as genuine antiquities has been big-business in Egypt for hundreds of years. At the start of the war the trade in Egyptian fake antiquities was large, and proved a decent money earner for street sellers in Egypt. The number of soldiers travelling through or training in Egypt would have been an absolute boon for the souvenir sellers, including those selling ‘genuine’ antiquities and faux objects ‘inspired’ by the genuine antiquities, such as this object.
In 1914 many thousands of men left Australia for Egypt, encountering landscapes and material culture completely unfamiliar to them. Men were trained in warfare at Mena Army Camp – against a surreal backdrop of ancient pyramids and the Sphinx. When not training, the men spent their spare time in local towns and at Cairo, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of an exotic eastern city. The men enjoyed sightseeing, climbing the pyramids, exploring temples, and acquired Egyptian ‘curios’ (in the parlance of the era -rare, unusual, intriguing objects) for themselves, at the request of friends and relatives, or as gifts for family – what would become the ‘bric-a-brac’ of war.
For the amateur soldier-archaeologist there were many opportunities to secure Egyptian antiquities. A short horse ride with a local guide to a rich gravesite, would secure a dozen scarabs after a few minutes of digging. Curios could be purchased from street sellers, authentic antiquities dug up from the desert sands, or faux objects ‘inspired’ by authentic pieces, such as large scarab paperweights.
Selling replicas as genuine antiquities has been big-business in Egypt for hundreds of years. At the start of the war the trade in Egyptian fake antiquities was large, and proved a decent money earner for street sellers in Egypt. The number of soldiers travelling through or training in Egypt would have been an absolute boon for the souvenir sellers, including those selling ‘genuine’ antiquities and faux objects ‘inspired’ by the genuine antiquities, such as this object.
Associated person
Registration number
E40003.1
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