Description
| ITEM | Scarab, reign of Amenhotep III |
| MATERIAL | Faience |
| CULTURE | Egyptian |
| PERIOD | Amarna period, 1391 – 1353 B.C |
| DIMENSIONS | 6 mm x 10 mm |
| CONDITION | Good condition |
| PROVENANCE | Ex Museum Exhibiton of the Arbeitsgruppe für Biblische Archäologie, Germany (Deaccession) |
Scarab amulets from the Amarna Period, particularly during the reign of Amenhotep III (circa 1391–1353 BCE), represent both continuity and innovation in Egyptian religious and artistic practices. Scarabs had long been used in ancient Egypt as protective amulets, symbols of rebirth, and tokens of personal identity. During Amenhotep III’s reign—an era of immense wealth, artistic refinement, and growing religious experimentation—scarabs continued to hold deep symbolic importance while often serving as diplomatic gifts or royal propaganda tools.
Scarabs from this period were typically made of glazed steatite or faience and bore inscriptions on their flat undersides. These could include the names and titles of the king, deities, or references to specific events. Under Amenhotep III, a distinctive group of large “commemorative scarabs” was produced, bearing long inscriptions detailing royal achievements such as lion hunts, building projects, or diplomatic marriages. These were widely distributed throughout the Near East, emphasizing the pharaoh’s power and divine favor.
Artistically, Amarna Period scarabs often reflect the increasing stylization and realism that characterized the broader visual culture of the time. While most still maintained the traditional beetle form associated with the god Khepri, some scarabs began to show more fluid and dynamic shapes, influenced by the artistic reforms that would fully blossom under Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten). The craftsmanship of these amulets was high, with finely carved hieroglyphs and smooth, glossy glazes in shades of blue and green—colors linked to life, regeneration, and the Nile.
In both funerary and diplomatic contexts, these scarabs served to reinforce the divine nature of the king and the protective power of Egyptian symbolism. Their widespread discovery—from Egyptian tombs to Levantine palaces—attests to Egypt’s far-reaching influence during Amenhotep III’s reign.
