An Egyptian Green Glazed Hathor Scaraboid, New Kingdom, 18th - 19th Dynasty, ca 1550-1290 BCE
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This finely carved scaraboid is fashioned from steatite and covered in a lustrous green glaze. Oval in form, it features a convex upper surface decorated with four raised circular motifs arranged symmetrically within a bordered field. The flat underside is incised with the head of the goddess Hathor, identifiable by her characteristic cow ears, and flanked by two outward-facing uraei. The uraeus cobra was among the most potent protective symbols in ancient Egyptian religion, serving as a guardian of both gods and kings. Combined with the image of Hathor, the design created a powerful amuletic device invoking divine protection, fertility, and regeneration.
During the New Kingdom, Hathor was one of Egypt's most widely venerated deities, associated with love, beauty, motherhood, music, and protection. Amulets bearing her image were worn by men and women alike to secure her favor and safeguard the wearer in daily life. The vibrant green glaze held particular symbolic significance for the Egyptians, representing rebirth, renewal, fertility, and eternal life.
Green-glazed steatite amulets were especially popular during the New Kingdom and were believed to embody regenerative powers beneficial to both the living and the dead. Wear to the suspension terminals indicates that this scaraboid was mounted and worn in antiquity, providing tangible evidence of its use as a personal ornament and protective amulet during the owner's lifetime.
Medium: Glazed Steatite
Dimensions: Height: 5/8 inch (1.6 cm). Strung as a pendant on a modern 18" adjustable chain of 18K yellow gold.
Condition: Intact and well preserved. The glaze remains attractive with expected minor wear consistent with age. The incised details remain clear and legible. Mounted as a pendant in a modern gold setting.
Provenance: Nora Scott (1905 – 1994), Curator of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, (retired 1972), and acquired from the Metropolitan Museum of Art by deaccession. Gifted to L. Virginia Burton (1918–2009) Associate Curator of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (retired 1977), and then by descent.
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