Scarab Inscribed with the Throne Name of Amenhotep III

Art Historical Context

This exquisite scarab, inscribed with the throne name of Amenhotep IIINebmaatre), hails from Egypt's New Kingdom, 18, around 1390–1352 B.C. During Amenhotep III's reign Egypt enjoyed a golden age of prosperity, monumental architecture, and international diplomacy. Scarabs like this one—small, beetle-shaped amulets— ubiquitous symbols of rebirth and the sun god Khepri, embodying the cycle of life and the pharaoh's eternal power. Crafted from faience, a vibrant glazed ceramic made of crushed quartz and colored with metallic oxides, this piece exemplifies ancient Egyptian ingenuity in creating durable, jewel-like objects at scale. The glossy blue-green glaze not only protected the surface but also evoked the Nile's fertile hues and precious lapis lazuli. At just 1.6 cm long, it likely served as a seal, jewelry, or protective talisman, stamped with the king's cartouche to invoke royal protection. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art department (Rogers Fund, 1911), this tiny artifact offers a window into everyday devotion to a god-king whose legacy shaped Luxor's temples. Imagine it rolling across a scribe's seal or adorning a noble's wrist— a miniature monument to imperial might!