An Egyptian Faience Scarab with a Greek Inscription

Roman Period, Circa 1st-3rd Century A.D.

Length 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm).

Provenance:

Private Collection, New York, acquired in the 1970s; thence by descent in 2007.

In ancient times, glyptics with inscriptions were thought to be magical and were worn as protective amulets. The underside of this scarab is engraved with a depiction of a seated Horus encircled by two falcons, a lion, a scorpion, and a Greek gnostic inscription. The inscription reads, "βαινχωωων," translating to "The Soul of Darkness." For a related gnostic scarab, see Walters Art Museum, Baltimore [acc. no. 42.872].

Inspected under UV light and 10x loupe. Some weathering and scratches consistent with age. Orange/brown soil deposits in some crevices. Drill hole running through long axis of scarab. Overall in fine and attractive condition. See additional images.

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Jacob Coley

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Antiquities and Ancient Art

[email protected]312 280 1212

Mr. Coley joined the Antiquities department in 2021 after working as Managing Director in the Ancient Art department at Colnaghi, the world’s oldest commercial art gallery, where he helped to establish the Ancient Art department and launched Colnaghi New York in 2017. Prior to Colnaghi, Mr. Coley was in the Greek and Roman Art department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Coley holds a B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Art Market from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and he earned an art-appraisal certificate from New York University.

Antiquities & Ancient Art

An Egyptian Faience Scarab with a Greek Inscription

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