Scarab

This very finely crafted scarab belongs to the naturalistic series of "Heart scarabs". The flat part under the animal's stomach bears a hieroglyphic inscription. Heart scarabs appeared during the New Empire as talismans, laid over the mummy in the place of the heart, as a kind of substitute.

The hieroglyphic formula pleads on behalf of the deceased, so that the heart will testify in his favour during the judgement of the dead.

This type of scarab is bigger than the other amulets in the shape of a beetle.