Egyptian scarabs : date and interpretation

[Alegandron]

20 hours ago, zumbly said:

I've always liked this one which clearly shows a UFO in its lower half.  Of course, I'm pretty sure @antwerpen2306 is going to tell me it's not actually evidence of ancient Egyptians encountering aliens.

One of my FAVES!

[antwerpen2306]

two others scarabs of my collection, both of the Hyksos-period.

steatit,17 mm, 12 mm, 8 mm.

the scarab has many details: the first part of the clypeus is white as the body, beside the head are the eyes indicated, the separation of the elytra and the prothorax is indicated by 2 notches, on the prothorax are 2 antennas and the sides are very well marked.

On the base are 7 concentric circle, joined by 2 flowerstems

 

The second has been restaured at the head.

 

 

steatit, 20 mm, 14 mm, 8 mm, restaured : head and clypeus right.

On the base is a geometric pattern, assembled in an ellipse and converging in the middle in a small circle.The 2 halves are as a mirror image. Under this design is a central rod with a design from the top to the bottom and touching the middle of the outside.

These geometric designs are typical for the period from Sesostris I (XII° Dynasty) to the XVIII° dynasty.

[antwerpen2306]

Another Hyksos scarab for today because, as every collector of scarabs knows : a scarab a day keeps the doctor away😗

Faience scarab, 14 mm, 10mm, 5 mm, about 1500 BC. I had a problem to date it exactly because there the type of the head and the clypeus is not in my catalogue. This is normal because scarab were made in such quantities by so much artisans there are many differences. The whole style of the scarab is Hyksos, as the work is not so fine (maybe because the material faience) I think I have to date this scarab at the end of the Hyksos period or beginning XVIII° Dynasty = 1500 BC

The base represent a design of single and double curls in oblique on a central rod, which is passing in the middle trough a quadrate and ends by a flower bud. This design had maybe a magical meaning.

 

 

[antwerpen2306]

Next one is a real Egyptian scarab, not a Hyksos-version.

Steatit, 15 mm, 5 mm, 6 mmm, second intermediary period, XVI° Dynasty.

The inscription is  : 𓎟 𓆄 𓋹 : nb m;’.t ‘nh : neb maat ankh. 

The hieroglyph neb is reversed to fit better in the curve, it means Lord

The second one is the ideogram for truth and the symbol for the goddess Maat

The third one is the ankh, meaning live. The translation is : Lord of the Truth and of Live, a title indicating the Pharaoh, who was the link between the gods ans the world. This titla was already used in the Old Period. The signs of Maat and Ankh are often found in names.

The scarab is of better quality than the inscription on the base, indicating maybe that these scarabs were fabricated in advance and that the buyer had the possibility to choose the inscription, made by another person. There is little damage because the base broke 

 

 

[antwerpen2306]

A scarab from the same period.

 

steatit,24 mm, 16 mm, 9 mm, second intermediary period, XVII° Dynasty

right the hieroglyph           𓇓                      left     𓆄          and    𓆗 The king is represented with the white crown of Upper Egypt, right there is a hieroglyph indicating it is the king from Upper Egypt   the hierogliph is the symbol representing the title King of Upper Egypt.

The two other hieroglyphs indicates that the farao is responsible for justice (Maat) and is protected by the uraeus.

Between the pharao and the hieroglyphs is another sign (or two maybe ?). I suppose it is hieratic script, but I am not sure.

          

[antwerpen2306]

This is a scarab from the XVIII° Dynasty. Glazed steatit, 17 mm, 11 mm, 6 mm. Steatit (soapstone)is a soft material mostly used from the XII° to the XX° Dynasty. Scarabs made of steatit were often glazed and this can also help us for dating. The characteristic glaze of the early XVIII° Dynasty is green with a grey shade, for the later periods are the colors from green to blue.

The base shows three hieroglyphs :  𓏠 :  𓆄 𓅯

the first represents a game board : mn = constant

the second is the symbol for Maat : the Truth

The third is a landing duck : hni = be present

So we can translate : Maat is all the time here. It can also be a name, because the hieroglyph mn is often used in namen ; p.e. : in the naame Amon.

 

 

[antwerpen2306]

4 hours ago, antwerpen2306 said:

This is a scarab from the XVIII° Dynasty. Glazed steatit, 17 mm, 11 mm, 6 mm. Steatit (soapstone)is a soft material mostly used from the XII° to the XX° Dynasty. Scarabs made of steatit were often glazed and this can also help us for dating. The characteristic glaze of the early XVIII° Dynasty is green with a grey shade, for the later periods are the colors from green to blue.

The base shows three hieroglyphs :  𓏠 :  𓆄 𓅯

the first represents a game board : mn = constant

the second is the symbol for Maat : the Truth

The third is a landing duck : hni = be present

So we can translate : Maat is all the time here. It can also be a name, because the hieroglyph mn is often used in namen ; p.e. : in the naame Amon.

 

 

 

[antwerpen2306]

sorry, i made a little mistake😁

[antwerpen2306]

A small faience scarab from the XXIIth Dynasty ( 945-712 BC), 9 mm, 5 mm, 3 mm.

For faience scarabs, the scarab was first produced, then the inscription engraved and finally glazed.

On the base is the name of Amon-Ra and the sign neb : overlord. This sign is on the top and at the bottom : i mn r’ nb : 𓇋𓏠𓇿 𓇳 𓎟

I have ended yesterday my book concerning my Near Eastern and Egyptian antiquities with this Egyptian text

 

                                                Hier eindigt het boek.

      

                  Gardiner, Egyptian Grammar, 1957, p 143

 

[antwerpen2306]

To end this part of the scarabs, a very nice XVIIIth Dynasty one. Steatit, 16 mm, 10 mm, 6 mm.

 

The scarab is very well carved, you can see through under the scarab.

On the base are 5 hieroglyphs, but 2 times the sames.

First 2 x a papyrus at the top and under, indicating Lower Egypt  𓇉      

in the middle : the hieroglyph meaning to be in  command  𓎗

at right and left :  the hieroglyph representing the red crown of Lower Egypt : 𓋔

so we can understand this inscription as : the Farao (the crown)is commanding in Lower Egypt.

 

If you have a problem or a question, you are welcome, I help if I can.

[robinjojo]

Something was bugging me recently and then I found out what it was.  I need to add a scarab to the collection!  

This example is quite humble and simple; it is not in top condition by any means.  There are some chips to the fired finish, exposing the underlying soap stone.  The engraving is crude - perhaps a mass produced scarab maybe used to stamp the hands of ancient Egyptians attending a concert?  As far a I can see there's an owl as the central figure, with a moderately curved symbol to the left and a "S" to the right.  I'm not sure what those two symbols represent or what the entire meaning or translation is.  Any ideas?

Egyptian Steatite scarab seal, circa 1750 - 1570 BC.

18.2x11.9x8.6 mm

3.21 grams

A larger image of the underside.

[antwerpen2306]

@robinjojo sorry for the late answer, but last week I had an operation and I am still out for dome weeks

Your scarabs looks at first sight pf the Hyksos period. I don t have here (in bed for 3/4weeks my books, nut the scarab looks very high for his size. The upper site looks normal, but the sides are not correct,imo.

For the hieroglyphs : a very bad work, the first maybe a broken? Cressent of the moon, in the middle a bird, not ân owl and at right maybe a serpent. I am not sure of all this, I have to check it later.

Conclusion : Huksos period or near easter imitation, but very nicr

 

[robinjojo]

42 minutes ago, antwerpen2306 said:

@robinjojo sorry for the late answer, but last week I had an operation and I am still out for dome weeks

Your scarabs looks at first sight pf the Hyksos period. I don t have here (in bed for 3/4weeks my books, nut the scarab looks very high for his size. The upper site looks normal, but the sides are not correct,imo.

For the hieroglyphs : a very bad work, the first maybe a broken? Cressent of the moon, in the middle a bird, not ân owl and at right maybe a serpent. I am not sure of all this, I have to check it later.

Conclusion : Huksos period or near easter imitation, but very nicr

 

Thank you so much, and I hope that you have a quick recovery.

[robinjojo]

I was basing my guess concerning the central figure on the owls depicted on some of the Phoenician staters of the 4th century BC.  The carving of the figure is very crude, but there seems to be an attempt to give it points at the top suggesting ears of an owl. 

(Not my coin)

 

[antwerpen2306]

@robinjojo thank you the recovery takes a long time, during 6 weeks I am not allowed to frove a car. My first hope is to leave the bed.

There is no hieroglypj representing an owl and there is 1000 years between the scarab ànd the coin.

Thinking about your scarab, it is strong the fired finish is chipped. This way of working is from later periods. Is the underside of the cressent chiped ?

[robinjojo]

The edges and part of the bottom is chipped.  I don't know how durable the finish is, but apparently the edge, which is most vulnerable must have been in contact with another object over time.  I speculate that the scarab was designed to be worn with a cord through it.  If it was worn around the neck or wrist perhaps that would explain the chips, as it would be prone to rub or bump against other objects...just a guess.

[antwerpen2306]

I am more and more convinced it is an non egyptian imitation, I look further but my wife is not very happy with the disorder I make here in the bedroom 😁

[antwerpen2306]

So, I can find a translation of the hieroglyphs. They are not well executed and I can not identify. The bird is a swallow: wr =  great𓅨 

it can also be a sparrow = bin = bad 𓅪

For the 2 other, I have no identification, this signs don't exist as hieroglyphs, I think. For these reasons, I think it is a non Egyptian scarab of the Hyksos period

 

[robinjojo]

Thank you!

[antwerpen2306]

No, I did my work not good, if ever you can make an impression of the scarab, post it, you never know...I am not 100 % now

[robinjojo]

I hope that you are doing better. 

I need to find some clay for the impression.

[DANTE]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your scarabs, @antwerpen2306

Earlier this weekend I bought this rather large and worn scarab in a French auction. What drew me in was the depiction of Bes( I've always wanted a depiction of him), and in spite of the obvious damage ( or perhaps because of it) it just looked way too attractive to be able to resist it. The fact that I'll be able to enjoy it without using a magnifying-glass is a bonus.

But I am simply not versed in Egyptian iconography, so I can't decipher it properly. Bes and the uraei I can make sense of, (they're a relatively common combination), but the rest is a deep mystery to me... Unfortunately, the seller's description isn't any help. Since they creatively identify the uraei flanking Bes as 'palmtrees', I think it's safe to take the rest of the attribution and description with a grain of salt... 🙂 

Here's the seller's description:

'Egypte - Scarabée pharaonique en pierre - Troisième période intermédiaire - 1069 / 747 av. J.-C.
Beau scarabée en stéatite de couleur gris anthracite dont l'empreinte représente le dieu Bès de face, entouré de 2 palmes avec un cartouche pharaonique au dessus. 33*25 mm.'

And of course, the scarab itself (seller's pic):

Fom the sizeI can't make out if it's pierced or not, but given the size it could well be a heart scarab.

Could you perhaps help out an illiterate and let your light shine on this one? I'd be ever so grateful!

I like the scarab as an object in its own right, and I will definitely enjoy having it, but knowing more about it would certainly help me enjoy it even more. I'm curious to know if the given time-frame (third intermediate period) is correct. And if you (or anyone else) could make sense of the cartouche above ('cartouche pharaonique'), well, that would be fantastic! But really any help toward solving the scarab-puzzle would be appreciated.😃

Dan

[antwerpen2306]

the cartouche is : from left to right : men kheper ra Thoutmosis III, see here on 'posted 1 september.

The date is possible, but it is impossible to confirm with this photos.

You are right, even in this quality, it is a very nice piece

[DANTE]

You're a great help, @antwerpen2306!😊Thank you for explaining the puzzle to me!

Dan

[thenickelguy]

So fascinating. I've always wanted to get at least one of these scarabs and a ushabti figure but know so little about them. Maybe someday one of you people will post one for sale on the cabinet. All I have is a heavy brass hinged scarab. It is maybe from 1950 to 1970? If I run across it, I'll edit and add a picture. I think the hieroglyphs on the underside are probably decorative gibberish. It is still a nice hunk of decorative brass but not the real thing.

Thanks for the neat thread!