Fragment of a Human-Headed Heart Scarab

Unknown

ca. 1802–1550 B.C. · Stone · Egyptian Art

Heart scarabs take the shape of a large scarab beetle, a symbol of regeneration. In this example the beetle’s head is replaced by a human face. The flat underside is inscribed with six horizontal lines of text. This inscription is a version of Book of the Dead spell 30B, the so-called heart scarab spell that magically "prevents the heart from creating opposition" and in which the deceased’s heart is directed not to tell lies about its owner. For the meaning of this spell and heart scarab amulets in general, see 30.8.1080. In the inscription here, the legs of all bird hieroglyphs have been omitted, a practice known from Dynasty 13 to early Dynasty 18.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1802–1550 B.C.

Medium

Stone

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Bequest of W. Gedney Beatty, 1941