Scarab Inscribed with the Symbols of Neith, Khepri and Re

Unknown

ca. 1295–1070 B.C. · Faience · Egyptian Art

Three symbols decorate the underside of this scarab. In the center, an oval sign represents two crossed bows and is the emblem of Neith, an important goddess of Lower Egypt. She was worshipped as a hunting and warrior goddess, but also as a mother and creator goddess. At the top is the sun disk of Re, while below is a beetle with outspread wings, rolling a small sun disk forward between its front legs. Although the beetle often figures on the base of scarab seals as a hieroglyph, mostly as part of a royal name or an inscription, the fact that it is shown here with outspread wings and a sun disk identifies it as the scarab god, Khepri. He is the god of the rising sun whereas Re is the sun in "all his glory". The close association with Khepri and Re on this scarab suggests that Neith is invoked here for her role as cosmogonic goddess, as a creator goddess.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1295–1070 B.C.

Medium

Faience

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910