Scarab ring

This gold ring belonged to a type of jewel that was very popular from the Middle Kingdom (around 2100-1600 BC) on. The stone is in the form of the sacred scarab, an animal which symbolized the daily rebirth of the sun.

During the Middle Kingdom, the flat part of amulet often bore the name of an official, along with his titles ; during the New Kingdom, it featured either the name of the reigning king, or a formula of protection placed under the care of a god.

Here, it is decorated with a Hatoric emblem surrounded with prayers for youth. In general, the scarab-ring swivelled around a gold thread whose two ends were wrapped around the band.