Egypt, Romano-Egyptian Period, ca. 30 BCE to 2nd century CE. A petite fly-shaped bead which is hand-carved from banded agate boasting earthy brown veining throughout. The insect presents with resting wings, a rectangular body, and a bulbous head with protruding lateral eyes. The body is drilled lengthwise through the center of the body for suspension. Size: 0.425" W x 0.75" H (1.1 cm x 1.9 cm).

According to scholar Dorothea Arnold, "The ancient Egyptians…seemed to have held flies in high esteem, presumably because of this insect's powers of fast reaction and indomitable, insistent presence…[though] earlier fly amulets may have also served to ward off these annoying insects." (Arnold, Dorothea. "An Egyptian Bestiary." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Spring 1995, Vol. LII, no. 4, p. 48)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#140562

Minor softening to some finer details, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits within drilled suspension hole.