Scarab Inscribed with the Throne Name of Amenhotep III
Unknown Artist
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
L: 1.6 cm (5/8 in.)
Classification
Scarab, Amenhotep III, Nebmaatre
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1911
Accession Number
11.215.21
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite scarab, inscribed with the throne name of Amenhotep IIINebmaatre), hails from Egypt's New Kingdom, 18, around 1390–1352 B.C. During Amenhotep III's reign Egypt enjoyed a golden age of prosperity, monumental architecture, and international diplomacy. Scarabs like this one—small, beetle-shaped amulets— ubiquitous symbols of rebirth and the sun god Khepri, embodying the cycle of life and the pharaoh's eternal power. Crafted from faience, a vibrant glazed ceramic made of crushed quartz and colored with metallic oxides, this piece exemplifies ancient Egyptian ingenuity in creating d...