Scarab inscribed with the name Menkheperre

Unknown

ca. 1186–945 B.C. · Steatite, traces of green glaze · Egyptian Art

The underside of the scarab shows a pair of stylized ostrich feathers on either side of an oval. The oval is a corrupt version of the royal cartouche and contains hieroglyphs forming the throne name of Thutmose III, Menkheperre. A winged sun disk is placed above. The typological features of the scarab’s back are characteristic for late New Kingdom-early Third Intermediate Period scarabs. This date is also indicated by the irregular manner in which the sun, the plumes, and the oval are incised. The composition is inspired by Menkheperre scarabs of the Ramesside period. Given the absence of titles or epithets, it is more likely that scarabs of Dynasty 20-21 inscribed with the name Menkheperre (or variants thereof) are a testimony of the posthumous cult of this pharaoh rather than that the name refers to the high priest of Amun Menkheperre.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1186–945 B.C.

Medium

Steatite, traces of green glaze

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020