Scarab Inscribed with Hieroglyphs Referring to Deities (Amun, Re, Maat)

Unknown

ca. 733–525 B.C. · Faience · Egyptian Art

A goose faces a large ostrich feather and a sun disk is placed above. The feather is a symbol of the goddess of truth and justice, Maat, but also of the god of air and light, Shu. As one of the symbolic animals of the sun god Amun, the goose is well-known in Egyptian imagery and the combination with a sun disk suggests that reference is made here to Amun-Re. Such combinations are known on seal-amulets from the New Kingdom (ca. 1550-1295 B.C.) to the Late Period (ca. 664-525 B.C.), found in Egypt as well as abroad. It is very likely that such inscriptions were not meant to call upon the protection of only Amun-Re and Maat, but rather that they left open the possibility to call upon any of the these divinities −Maat as well as Shu, Amun, Re and Amun-Re− by not specifying which specific deity was meant.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 733–525 B.C.

Medium

Faience

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889