Scarab, heart scarab
Production date
747 BCE-332 BCE
Country
Egypt
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Object detail
Description
Carved serpentine 'heart' amulet, without usual heiroglyphic inscription on base. All major portions of the beetles external anatomy have been very well depicted, including clypeus, antenna, pronotum and pronotal tumosity, elytron and striae.
Classification
ARCHAEOLOGY Egyptian amulet
Production date
747 BCE-332 BCE
Production place
Measurements
L48mm x W34 x D23mm
Media/Materials description
Serpentine
History and use
Scarabs are a common kind of amulet, the earliest being amuleic and uninscribed. This large scarab is possibly a ‘heart scarab’. Larger scarabs are often called 'heart scarabs'. Heart scarabs are usually inscribed with an extract from the Egyptian funerary text, the Book of the Dead, specifically Chapter 30b, which asks the heart not incriminate its owner in the Hall of Judgement.
Associated person
Registration number
E40059
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