Scarab Inscribed with a Geometric Pattern
Description
Scarab; spirals; notched back. New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, early, Joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, ca. 1479–1458 B.C. Steatite (glazed). L. 1.6 cm (5/8 in); w. 1.2 cm (1/2 in); h. 0.8 cm (5/16 in). From: Temple of Hatshepsut, Foundation Deposit 7 (G), Deir el-Bahri, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Egypt. Excavation: MMA excavations, 1926–27. Subject: Scarabs. Credit: Rogers Fund, 1927.
AI image analysis GPT-5.4-nano
Machine-generated from the object's image on Jul 2026. Not curatorial; treat deities, names, and signs below as the model's best reading, not authority.
Small glazed green steatite scarab with a symmetrical geometric design on the face, centered around a cross-like motif with paired spiral elements.
The image shows a rounded scarab-shaped amulet in turquoise/green glaze over a darker green base, viewed straight-on. The face bears a symmetrical design: a central cross-like form (two crossing bands) with two curving arms extending toward the left and right, and four corner/side elements consisting of looped spiral (swirl) motifs. Thin dark outlining emphasizes the incised/raised pattern, and a light background clay/stone appears at edges where glaze is worn. No readable hieroglyphic text, cartouches, or maker’s inscriptions are clearly visible; any small marks near the perimeter appear decorative or damage and cannot be reliably read. No deities are identifiable from the visible design alone, and no royal names are present.
Cross-references (4)
- Wikidata-Q Q116273227 tier-1
- Collection-QID Q160236 tier-2 (wikidata-mediated)
- Inventory-Number 27.3.354 tier-2 (wikidata-mediated)
- MET-Object 549741 tier-2 (wikidata-mediated)
About this record's data
- From the source institution — accession, description, dimensions, and dating are as catalogued by Metropolitan Museum of Art — Egyptian Art (Open Access).
- AI-inferred — the image-analysis panel (deities, names, signs) is machine-generated and may be wrong.
- Approximate location — most map points are plotted at the site centroid, not the exact findspot.
- Inferred links — cross-references marked with a match method other than explicit-source-field were matched by us, not stated by the source.