Scarab of Thutmose III
Unknown Artist
ca. 1479–1425 B.C.
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
l. 2 cm (13/16 in)
Classification
Scarab, Thutmose III
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926
Accession Number
26.7.174
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the Scarab of Thutmose III, a diminutive yet mighty artifact from ancient Egypt's New Kingdom (. 1479–1425 B.C.), specifically Dynasty 18. Crafted during the reign of one of Egypt's greatest warrior-pharaohs, Thutmose III—who expanded the empire through brilliant military campaigns—this tiny faience scarab (just 2 cm long) as both a personal seal and a potent amulet. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art department, it was acquired through the Edward S. Harkness Gift in 1926. Faience, a glazed ceramic composite of quartz, lime, and clay, was prized for its vibrant tur...