A Royal Egyptian Steatite Scarab for Siamun,
Dynasty 21, ca. 986–967 BCE

Pierced longitudinally for suspension, the scarab is finely carved from steatite, the back has a single suture and pronotum lines with markings on the elytra. The legs are naturalistically carved and deeply incised. The base is inscribed “Netjer-kheper-re,” the prenomen of Siamun of Dynasty 21, which means “Divine is The Manifestation of Ra” which is a shorter version of Siamun’s usual prenomen, “Netjer-kheper-re beloved of Amun.”

Neterkheperre or Netjerkheperre-Setepenamun Siamun was the sixth pharaoh of Egypt during the Twenty-first Dynasty. He built extensively in Lower Egypt for a king of the Third Intermediate Period and is regarded as one of the most powerful rulers of the Twenty-first Dynasty after Psusennes I. It has been suggested that Siamun was the unnamed pharaoh of the Bible who gave in marriage his daughter to king Solomon in order to seal an alliance between the two (1Kings 3:1), and later conquered Gezer and gave it to Solomon as well (1Kings 9:16). This identification is supported by some scholars but challenged by others, with the latter stating that "it is impossible to conclude which Egyptian monarch ruled concurrently with David and Solomon".

Condition: Intact and in excellent condition overall.

Dimensions:  Length: 3/8 inch (1 cm)

Provenance: Private Maryland Collection, acquired while stationed in Egypt in the 1950s, and then by descent.