This finely carved Ancient Egyptian scarab amulet is formed from glazed steatite and measures approximately ½ inch in length. The piece is sculpted in the traditional beetle form, representing the sacred scarab (Khepri), the god of rebirth, regeneration, and the rising sun. The domed back displays ancient wear, glaze loss, and mineral patina consistent with long burial and ritual use, while the flat base is engraved with a stylized hieroglyphic formula arranged in a classical cartouche-inspired layout, a common protective motif used during the Late Period.

The scarab is pierced longitudinally, allowing it to be worn as a personal amulet, mounted in a ring, or attached to mummy wrappings or jewelry in antiquity. Scarabs of this type were among the most important religious objects in Egyptian daily and funerary life, believed to provide divine protection and ensure renewal in the afterlife.

The material, engraving style, surface condition, and glaze remnants are fully consistent with authentic Late Period Egyptian production, circa 664–332 BCE.

Provenance:
From the collection of Philip Mitry, one of the most important Egyptian antiquities dealers of the mid-20th century. The Mitry collection was exported from Egypt and imported into the United States in 1951, well before modern cultural property and export restrictions, ensuring the object’s legal status and long-established presence in a private American collection.