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Scarab ring of Tuthmosis III

The Scarab ring is a style of finger ring featuring a small sculpture of a scarab as the bezel that was popular in the Egyptian Middle Kingdom and later. [1] [2] They generally incorporated an inscription on the base of the scarab but not always. [1] [2]

The bezel design was developed in the late Old Kingdom as a signet/amulet with the scarab representing the god Ra. [2] Glazed steatite was the most popular material although where the scarab have been in damp conditions the glazing may not have survived until the present day. [2] [3] Originally they were tied to the fingers with thread but later gold wire, with coils patterned after the thread, was used. [2] Scarab rings with thicker hoops developed during the Second Intermediate Period. [2] The scarab itself was mounted with a gold wire running through its centre on which it could swivel. [2] As well as gold silver was used. [3]

A final development was during the Amarna Period where instead of being carved the scarab was cast as part of the ring. [2] At the same time faience copies of the rings were made. [2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Scarab ring of Sithathoryunet". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Aldred, Cyril (1971). Jewels of the Pharaohs Egyptian Jewellery of the Dynastic Period. Thames and Hudson. pp. 160–161. ISBN  0500231389.
  3. ^ a b "Scarab Ring of Ruiu". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 20 September 2018.