Scarab Inscribed with the Throne Name of Amenhotep I
Unknown Artist
ca. 1525–1504 B.C.
Medium
Steatite, glazed
Dimensions
l. 1.5 cm (9/16 in); w. 1.1 cm (7/16 in)
Classification
Scarab, Amenhotep I, Djeserkare, sphinx
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
Accession Number
10.130.443
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Egyptian Art galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we encounter a tiny treasure from the New Kingdom: the *Scarab Inscribed with Throne Name of Amenhot I*. Crafted around 1525–1504 B.C. during Dynasty 18, this petite amulet measures just 1.5 cm long and 1.1 cm wide, made from steatite—a soft soapstone—carefully glazed to mimic the vibrant blue-green faience popular in ancient Egypt. Donated in 1910 by Helen Gould, it exemplifies the exquisite miniature artistry of the period. Scarabs like this one held profound cultural significance, embodying the sacred dung beetle...