Uninscribed Scarab of Sithathoryunet
Unknown Artist
ca. 1887–1813 B.C.
Medium
Lapis-lazuli
Dimensions
l. 1.7 cm (11/16 in)
Classification
Scarab, Sithathoryunet
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers Fund and Henry Walters Gift, 1916
Accession Number
16.1.23
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the **Uninscribed Scarab of Sithathoryunet**, a petite jewel from ancient Egypt's Middle Kingdom (. 1887–1813 B.C.), crafted during Dynasty 12—a golden era of stability and artistic refinement under pharaohs like Senusret II and III. This scarab, measuring just 1.7 cm long, embodies the sacred beetle form revered as a symbol of rebirth, transformation, and the sun god Khepri. Discovered in the tomb of Sithathoryunet, a princess and likely daughter of Senusret II at Lahun, it was part of an extraordinary hoard of jewelry that highlights the elite craftsmanship of the period. Carved from...