Finger Rings (Arranged) at Metropolitan Museum
Dynasty 18, reign of Thutmose III (ca. 1479-1425 BCE)
Gold, lapis lazuli, glazed steatite
From the tomb of the three minor wives of Thutmose III in the Wady Gabbanat el-Qurud, Thebes
Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926 (26.7.759-765)

"The scarabs in these rings are all inscribed with the name of Thutmose III:

(Detail showing Thutmose III's cartouche with his throne name "Menkheperre")

"Lasting is the manifestation of Re", "Eternal is the coming-into-being of Re"

I have another example of carefully arranged items, also at the Met museum and also featuring scarabs:


These scarabs were in one of the 'study' rooms...

Why so many scarabs?


It is the hieroglyph for 'kheper' = "come into being", Oriental Museum


"Scarabs of stone or faience ranged from the stylized to the highly naturalistic and were made in millions in ancient Egypt as stamp seals and as amulets." Although several species of beetles are found in Egypt, it is "the large sacred scarab (Scarabaeus sacer)" that is most commonly represented in ancient Egyptian art.

"Because the young beetles seemed to emerge spontaneously" from the tunnels in which they stored their food, the scarabs were sacred to the Egyptians as "Khepri: "he who came forth' or "he who came into being."

(Information in quotes from _Reading Egyptian Art_, by Richard Wilkinson, page 113
Photos ©Joan Ann Lansberry

Photos for "Photo Friday" Themes
Photos from Metropolitan Museum - Egyptian Galleries
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