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| CIVILIZATION | Egyptian |
| PERIOD | New Kingdom |
| DATE | 18th-20th Dynasty, 1550-1070 B.C. |
| MATERIAL | Greywacke |
| MOUNTED | Yes |
Egyptian Greywacke Heart Scarab for Hu-Sheri
New Kingdom, 18th-20th Dynasty, 1550-1070 B.C.
A very fine and naturalistically modelled scarab inscribed for Hu-Sheri, with the details of the beetle's physiognomy defined, the clypeus inscribed with four glyhps, reading ‘priest of Djehuty’, the underside inscribed with eleven rows of hieroglyphs from Chapter 30B of the Book of the Dead, reading:
(1) Hu-Sheri, true [of voice.] (2) O my heart of my mother (twice), my heart of my various (3) forms! Do not stand up against me, do not testify (4) against me as a witness, do not be (5) an opponent against [me] in the tribunal, do not be hostile (6) against me in the presence of the keeper of the balance! You are my spirit which is (7) in my body, Khnum who keeps my limbs healthy! When I [sic] go forth (8) to the beautiful place where [we] hasten, do not cause our name to stink (9) to the entourage who turn people into heaps! (10) When it goes well for us, it goes well for the judge. May the heart be glad at their verdict! (11) Do not make up lies […]
The common idea that the heart scarab was designed to replace the heart after its removal at mummification remains questiona
A very fine and naturalistically modelled scarab inscribed for Hu-Sheri, with the details of the beetle's physiognomy defined, the clypeus inscribed with four glyhps, reading ‘priest of Djehuty’, the underside inscribed with eleven rows of hieroglyphs from Chapter 30B of the Book of the Dead, reading:
(1) Hu-Sheri, true [of voice.] (2) O my heart of my mother (twice), my heart of my various (3) forms! Do not stand up against me, do not testify (4) against me as a witness, do not be (5) an opponent against [me] in the tribunal, do not be hostile (6) against me in the presence of the keeper of the balance! You are my spirit which is (7) in my body, Khnum who keeps my limbs healthy! When I [sic] go forth (8) to the beautiful place where [we] hasten, do not cause our name to stink (9) to the entourage who turn people into heaps! (10) When it goes well for us, it goes well for the judge. May the heart be glad at their verdict! (11) Do not make up lies […]
The common idea that the heart scarab was designed to replace the heart after its removal at mummification remains questionable. The Egyptians feared that the heart, the seat of memory and conscience, would testify against the deceased at the Divine Tribunal. Placing a heart scarab within the mummy wrappings or over the heart, or near the neck, of the mummy of the deceased was designed to prevent this. They are often inscribed with a spell from the Book of the Dead imploring the heart not to abandon its owner.
Intact. A very fine example.
ex. Collection of Jacques Billen, (Harmakhis) Belgium, 1970s.
Emmacha Collection, Paris, acquired from the above.
French Passport no. 218915
Art Loss Register Certificate no.: S00207104
Emmacha Collection, Egyptian Antiquities, 2013, vol. II, no. 141, pps. 171-177, illus. Incorrectly described for Hor-Khered.
For parallels, see Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum, accession no. FIC.07.165; Met Museum, accession no. 10.130.1644; Fitzwilliam Museum, accession no. E.113.1900, for a heart scarab with a spell for Hu-Sheri.
This item qualifies for an interest-free payment plan. This exclusive feature is made available to customers who would like to pay off qualified purchases in installments. Learn More
Free expedited shipping is available on this item. Allow 3-5 business days for delivery to the U.S.A. and Canada. Allow 5-10 business days for international deliveries. Express shipping may be available at checkout. Minor shipping delays may occur. All items are carefully packaged to ensure safe arrival. We ship Monday to Thursday. Learn more
| CATEGORY | Egyptian |
| PERIOD | New Kingdom |
| DATE | 18th-20th Dynasty, 1550-1070 B.C. |
| MATERIAL | |
| MOUNTED | Yes |
