Scarab of Ramesses II
Unknown Artist
ca. 1295–1070 B.C.
Medium
Glazed steatite
Dimensions
L. 0.8 × W. 0.5 cm (5/16 × 3/16 in.)
Classification
Scarab, Ramesses II
Period
New Kingdom, Ramesside
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
Accession Number
10.130.582
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite scarab of Ramesses II, crafted from glazed steatite during Egypt’s New Kingdom (Dynasties 19–20), exemplifies the enduring power of royal iconography in ancient Egyptian culture. Measuring just 0.8 by 0.5 centimeters, the tiny artifact was likely worn as an amulet or used as a seal. Its diminutive scale highlights the remarkable precision of Egyptian artisans, who carved intricate details into hard stone before applying a vibrant glaze that would have gleamed like precious faience. Scarab beetles held profound symbolic meaning, representing rebirth and the daily renewal of the ...