A well-cut steatite scarab with plain body, the legs folded to the side; pierced for suspension. The underside is carved with a cartouche bearing the throne name of Tuthmosis III, 'Menkhperre' meaning 'Lasting is the manifestation of Ra', flanked by two Maat feathers, whilst below is the sign for the crocodile god, Sobek. Supplied with the modern hard wax impression.
Egyptian New Kingdom-Late Dynastic: Circa 1500-500 BC.
Condition: Very Fine.
Length 15 mms (0.6 ins).
Provenance: From the Gustave Mustaki collection, a collector of antiquities who amassed large collection in Alexandria (Egypt) in the early 20th century and his collection came to the UK under Egyptian licence in 1947.
Not all scarabs bearing a royal name are contemporaneous to the ruling pharaoh. Some kings were held in particularly high regard, and thus their name appears on scarabs hundreds of years after their reign. Thutmosis III of Dynasty XVIII was particularly honoured in this way, with his prenomen, Men-kheper-re and was used on scarabs for a period of approx. 1000 years as a metaphor for good luck and plenty. This scarab may have served as a protective amulet, combining royal power and divine guardianship, or as a commemorative item celebrating loyalty or service.