Scarab Ring of Ruiu
Unknown Artist
ca. 1504–1447 B.C.
Medium
Steatite (glazed), silver
Dimensions
Scarab: L. 1.4 cm (9/16 in.); W. 1 cm (3/8 in.); H. 0.6 cm (1/4 in.); Diam. of ring 2.4 cm (15/16 in.)
Classification
Ring, Ruiu, scarab
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1935
Accession Number
35.3.52
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the sunlit world of ancient Egypt with the *Scarab Ring of Ruiu*, a exquisite jewel from the early New Kingdom's 18th Dynasty (ca. 1504–1447 B.C.). Crafted during a golden age of pharaonic power under rulers like Thutmose III, this tiny artifact—featuring a scarab beetle just 1.4 cm long—served as both personal adornment and potent symbol. The name "Ruiu" likely refers to its owner, a common practice for such intimate items, evoking the daily lives of Egypt's elite. Fashioned from steatite, a soft soapstone glazed to a vibrant blue-green sheen mimicking lapis lazuli, the scarab is m...