Ancient Egyptian Scarab with Hyksos Inscription

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #719983

The scarab held special significance for the Egyptians as a representation of the the creator and solar deity, Khepri. The scarab beetle rolls its eggs in a ball of dung along the ground, which the Egyptians held as symbolic of Khepri pushing the sun across the sky. As baby beetles were seen to emerge from the dung, scarabs were thought capable of spontaneous creation, further linking them to Khepri through his function as a creator god. From the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055-1650 BC) onward, the scar... Click for details

Ancient Egyptian "Good Luck" Scarab

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #719974

The scarab held special significance for the Egyptians as a representation of the the creator and solar deity, Khepri. The scarab beetle rolls its eggs in a ball of dung along the ground, which the Egyptians held as symbolic of Khepri pushing the sun across the sky. As baby beetles were seen to emerge from the dung, scarabs were thought capable of spontaneous creation, further linking them to Khepri through his function as a creator god. From the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055-1650 BC) onward, the scar... Click for details

Excellent Ancient Egyptian Design Scarab

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #719964

The scarab held special significance for the Egyptians as a representation of the the creator and solar deity, Khepri. The scarab beetle rolls its eggs in a ball of dung along the ground, which the Egyptians held as symbolic of Khepri pushing the sun across the sky. As baby beetles were seen to emerge from the dung, scarabs were thought capable of spontaneous creation, further linking them to Khepri through his function as a creator god. From the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055-1650 BC) onward, the scar... Click for details

Tiny, Perfect Egyptian Scarab of Thutmosis III

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #703500

Thutmose (or Thutmosis) III was one of Egypt's most celebrated pharaohs. He ruled during the 18th Dynasty from 1504-1450 B.C., early in the New Kingdom period. Egypt had previously been an insular, xenophobic society, but the intrusion of the Hyksos peoples into the Nile delta during the 2nd Intermediate Period brought updated technology and awareness of the wealth that was available in the outside world. Accordingly, the early New Kingdom pharaohs focused on driving out the Hyksos and conquerin... Click for details

Ancient Egyptian Scarab with Antelope & Mongoose

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #703488

This scarab belongs to a class of Levantine scarabs from the Second Intermediate Period. The base shows a victorious mongoose in the upper left field vanquishing an antelope, fleeing to the right. The Egyptian mongoose (ichneumon) was a popular pet and a symbol of the pharaoh, often referred to as a "Pharaoh's cat" in ancient writings. Here, it depicts the power of the pharaoh asserting its dominance over a foe, represented by the antelope. ... Click for details

Ancient Egyptian Faience Ushabti

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #643896

Beginning in the Middle Kingdom, the ancient Egyptians were buried with small human statues called shabtis. These figures were to serve as servants in the afterlife, performing any work necessary so that the deceased could enjoy eternity in peace. This was accomplished by inscribing Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead on the shabti, which reads: "O shabti, if the deceased is called upon to do any of the work required there in the necropolis at any time...you shall say, 'Here I am, I will do it.'" ... Click for details

Coptic Egyptian Textile Fragment of a Nude Dancer

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #642067

This is a fragment of a very popular style of Coptic tunic from the sixth century A.D. Tunics from this period featured stripes called clavi, which crossed over the shoulders from hem to hem. (Think of a tunic as a T-shirt; the two clavi were vertical strips that ran up the front and back of the tunic in a similar position that a pair of modern suspenders would sit.) Within the clavi were chains of linked ovals that contained a variety of motifs, like busts and animals. This larger arch contains... Click for details

Ancient Egyptian Faience Amulet of Shu, God of the Sky

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #638699

Shu was one of the earliest gods in Egyptian mythology. His history is best outlined in the Heliopolitan creation myth, in which he is the father of the sky god, Nut, and the earth god, Geb. Nut and Geb became lovers and held the sky and Earth together without room for the sun or moon to move through the air. In irritation, Ra, the god of the sun, ordered Shu to intervene. Shu did so, and he bore Nut above his head while kneeling on the body of Geb, therefore separating the lovers and creating t... Click for details

Egyptian Bronze Coin of Ptolemy VI and Cleopatra II

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #638443

This large (30mm) bronze coin dates to the co-rule of Ptolemy VI Philometor with his sister (and wife), Cleopatra II, between 176-145 B.C. Ptolemy VI had an eventful reign marked by the increasing influence of Rome in Egyptian politics. From 169-164 B.C., Ptolemy VI ruled as part of a triumvirate composed of himself, his sister/wife, and his younger brother, Ptolemy VIII Physcon. Infighting between the siblings led to Ptolemy VI's temporary expulsion from Egypt in 164, leading him to go to Rome ... Click for details

Coptic Egyptian Textile Fragment of a Lion

Archives: Regional Art: Ancient World: Egyptian Pre AD 1000: item #638422

Tradition dictates that the Coptic Church in Egypt is based upon the teachings of St. Mark, one of the original disciples who supposedly visited Egypt around 50 A.D. Christianity took hold easily in Egypt, largely as a result of existing Egyptian religious beliefs that meshed well with Christian doctrine (e.g., the resurrection of Osiris and the holy trinity of Osiris, Isis, and Horus). The Coptic Church was more or less exiled from the Western Christian church due to its emphasis on monastic li... Click for details