Fragment of Scarab Inscribed for Seti I
Unknown Artist
ca. 1294–1279 B.C.
Medium
Glazed steatite
Dimensions
L. 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
Classification
Scarab, Seti I, hieroglyphs, royal titles, epithet, Ptah
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1909
Accession Number
09.180.928
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment of a scarab inscribed for Pharaoh Seti I, dates to Egypt's New Kingdom (Dynasty 19, ca. 1294–1279 B.C.). Carved from glazed steatite—a soft soapstone coated with a vibrant glassy frit—the scarab's iridescent-green sheen mimics the precious stones favored by royalty, making even small amulets like this one (just 3.7 cm long) symbols of divine power. Scarabs, shaped like the sacred dung beetle, represented rebirth and the sun god Khepri, often serving as seals, jewelry, or protective talismans worn by the elite. Seti I, a warrior-king renowned for expanding Egypt's empir...