Scarab with Hieroglyphs and Recumbent Donkey

Second Intermediate Period

ca. 1700–1600 B.C. (Middle Bronze Age IIB)

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109

The underside of this Canaanite Middle Bronze Age scarab is decorated with the representation of recumbent quadruped, which can be identified as a wild ass or donkey based on its long ears and equid-like muzzle. Above and behind the animal are the hieroglyphs for good (nefer) and unification (sema). While the donkey was one of the most important animals of burden in ancient Egypt, in the Levant, the donkey was commonly ridden too.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Scarab with Hieroglyphs and Recumbent Donkey
Period: Second Intermediate Period
Date: ca. 1700–1600 B.C. (Middle Bronze Age IIB)
Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, Cemetery, debris, MMA excavations, 1920–22
Medium: Green glazed steatite
Dimensions: L. 2.2 × W. 1.5 × H. 0.9 cm (7/8 × 9/16 × 3/8 in.)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922
Object Number: 22.1.429
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Ritual Scene with Senwosret I, Limestone, paint — Ritual Scene with Senwosret I
ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Relief showing procession of offering bearers, Limestone, paint — Relief showing procession of offering bearers
ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Name Panels from the Inner Wall of Senwosret I's Pyramid Complex, Limestone — Name Panels from the Inner Wall of Senwosret I's Pyramid Complex
ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Seated Statue of the Steward Sehetepibreankh, Limestone — Seated Statue of the Steward Sehetepibreankh
ca. 1919–1885 B.C.

Lintel depicting Horus offering an <em>ankh</em> sign to the Horus name of King Amenemhat I, Limestone, paint — Lintel depicting Horus offering an *ankh* sign to the Horus name of King Amenemhat I
ca. 1981–1952 BCE

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.