ITEM: Scarab with kheper-beetle, men-sign, corrupted reading for “Men-kheper” = Men-kheper-Re? (prenomen of Thutmosis III)
MATERIAL: Glazed steatite
CULTURE: Egyptian
PERIOD: New Kingdom, 1550 - 1070 B.C
DIMENSIONS: 13 mm x 9 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex American egyptologist collection, active in the early part of the 20th century, brought to the US with the family in 1954.

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 4 to 6 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the amount of the sale, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Scarab amulets were used for their magical rejuvenating properties by both the living and the dead. Scarabs were used by living individuals as seals from the start of the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2055 BCE) onwards. The most common inscription for these scarabs was the owner’s name. The incised design was often a schematic combination of hieroglyphs and geometric patterning. Patterns could often denote the specific administrative office held by the wearer.

Scarabs were also often rendered naturalistically in the round. The regenerative powers of scarabs of this nature could be used by either the living or the dead for healing and protection during quotidian activities or during a deceased person’s passage into the afterlife. The striking red/orange color of this amulet’s carnelian strengthens its solar associations.

Thutmose III, was the sixth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt and ruled from around 1479 BCE to 1425 BCE. He is considered one of the most successful military leaders in Egyptian history, known for his numerous military campaigns and expansion of the Egyptian empire. Thutmose III initially shared the throne with his stepmother, Queen Hatshepsut, but assumed full control after her death. During the co-regency, Hatshepsut took on the role of pharaoh while Thutmose III received a military education that would later contribute to his success on the battlefield.

Thutmose III's military campaigns were primarily focused on expanding Egypt's territorial reach and securing its borders. His most famous military victory occurred at the Battle of Megiddo in 1457 BCE, where he decisively defeated a coalition of Canaanite and Syrian rulers. This victory solidified Egyptian dominance in the region and allowed Thutmose III to establish a series of strategic alliances and vassal states. His military achievements earned him the title of the "Napoleon of Egypt" due to his tactical brilliance and the sheer scale of his conquests.

Beyond his military prowess, Thutmose III was also an adept administrator and diplomat. He undertook extensive building projects, including temples and monuments, contributing to the cultural and architectural legacy of ancient Egypt. Thutmose III's reign is often considered a period of prosperity and stability for Egypt, marking a high point in its imperial power and influence in the ancient world.

Good condition

1.3 x 0.9 cm