An Egyptian Stone Heart Scarab, Late Period, ca. 664 - 332 BCE

The scarab’s association with the daily rebirth of the young sun god, Khepri, gave the beetle a prominent role in funerary contexts. In this example, the body conforms to the usual scarabaeus sacer; the head is carved on the five notched shield (clypeus). The first segment of the upper body (prothorax) and wings (elytrae) are separated by incised lines. As is to be expected, this heart scarab has no borehole and is uninscribed on the base.

Background: The heart scarab, which first appeared in Dynasty XIII, played an important role in the funerary accessories of the deceased. Not only was it the medium for magical text, it was also a symbol of self-generation and rebirth. It assured the deceased wearer that at the final judgment, he would be found "true of voice" and accepted into the eternal afterlife under the rule of the god Osiris. Many heart scarabs bear part or all of what is known as Chapter 30B from the Book of the Dead; a prayer to the heart of Isis, who was the mother of the deceased, not to bear false witness against the deceased when he is being judged before Osiris. The Book of the Dead also instructs that the heart scarab be made of the nemhef-stone, identified as green jasper, serpentine, or basalt, and be set in a gold chase suspended from the neck. It appears the stone was chosen not only for its greenish color, which symbolized life, health, and regeneration but also for its weight. The heart could not weigh more than the feather of Maat, so a heart scarab of just the right heft would work in favor of the deceased. References: Andrews, Carol, 1994. Amulets of Ancient Egypt, chapter 4: Scarabs for the living and funerary scarabs, pp 50-59, Andrews, Carol, c 1993, University of Texas Press. 

Medium: Stone

Dimensions: Height: 1 5/8 inches (4 cm)

Condition: Minor surface wear, overall intact and in good condition.

Provenance: Private Maryland collection of a diplomat, acquired while serving in Egypt between 1949 and 1956, and then by descent.