Egypt, New Kingdom /Third Intermediate Period, 1550 to 664 BCE. This is a large green basalt stone "heart" scarab with carved details of the head, wings, and legs. The wings are nicely outlined with shallow incised lines. Heart scarabs are oval amulets that were used as personal protection, jewelry, and grave goods. Size: 2.45" L x 1.9" W x 0.9" H (6.2 cm x 4.8 cm x 2.3 cm)

In the "Book of the Dead", heart scarabs are prescribed to be made of stone, usually green stones, such as jasper, serpentine, and greenish basalt like this one. A scarab like this one most likely would have been placed inside of a mummy's wrappings over its heart, which the ancient Egyptians believed to be the seat of the mind. After death, according to their beliefs, an individual's heart would be weighed against a feather by the jackal god Anubis before a panel of deities who waited at the gateway to the netherworld to judge the dead. If the heart was lighter than a feather, then the deceased could pass into the next life; if not, they would be devoured by a monster and cease to exist.

Provenance: Ex-Matrisciano Collection, California

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#120854

Two small areas of ancient loss to underside, with smooth, aged patina on stone.