Scarabaeus; Egypt, New Empire, 1550-1070 B.C.

Scarab; Egypt, New Empire, 1550-1070 BC.
Steatite.
With inscription "Men- Khaeper-Re" (Thutmose III).
Measurements: 0,5 cm (diameter).
Egyptian scarab made of steatite, dated to the New Empire, with hieroglyphic inscription "Men-Kheper-Re", one of the names of the throne of the pharaoh Thutmose III. It is an amulet of small format, carefully carved, which takes the form of the scarab dung beetle, one of the most powerful symbols of the Egyptian religious imaginary.
The scarab was not only an ornamental object, but an amulet charged with symbolic and protective meaning. In the Egyptian mentality, the scarab was associated with the god Jepri, manifestation of the rising sun and the constant renewal of life. Its natural behavior, pushing the dung ball, was interpreted as an image of the movement of the sun across the sky and the eternal cycle of regeneration.
The inscription "Men-Kheper-Re" directly links the piece to Thutmose III, one of the most powerful pharaohs of the New Empire, reinforcing its function as an object of royal propaganda and legitimization of power. This type of scarabs could be used as seals, amulets or commemorative elements, spreading the name of the pharaoh and his divine authority.