2,500+ Year Old Ancient Egyptian Scarab Artifact

Hello Steemians! Today I'd like to share a piece of history with you in my possession thats traveled thousands of years from Ancient Egypt all the way to you via Steemit!

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My Interest in Ancient Egypt

Ever since I was very young I've had a fascination with Egypt, especially Ancient Egypt. I spent years watching documentarys, reading books, and even contemplated being an archaeologist one day.

Discovering "deaccession"

One day years ago I learned of a museum selling off some of their collection that they owned which completely baffled me at the time. I never heard of museums actually selling things that they own. As it turns out, museums can sometimes have very large collections of items that they do not have room to display. These are usually stored in boxes on top of boxes in their basement.

Museums sometimes sell their excess items to raise funds in a practice known as "deaccession". Most are items they have plenty examples of. Think about how long ancient civilizations went on for and all the pieces of jewelry that were made throughout the decades for every man, woman, and child born during that time.

Deciding to Collect

I visited Christie's, one of the largest well known and trustworthy auctioneers of Fine Arts, Antiques, and Jewelry that museums tend to use. I went through a brief phase of purchasing some items which will all be donated back to museums either when I pass or when I find one looking for these pieces.

I got them with the strong desire to actually physically hold something, something that someone held thousands of years ago. The thought still blows my mind.

Without further adieu!

The Scarab's Reverse

Details

Steatite scarab, decorated with two hieroglyphs for the word "gold" with baskets filling the end spaces.

Category:
Egyptian

Period:
New Kingdom-Late Period

Date:
c. 1554-600 B.C.

Material:
Steatite

Size:
5/8 inch | 1.7 cm

The Front

Scarabs in Ancient Egypt

Scarabs in Ancient Egypt come in different sizes. Some very large have elaborate inscriptions on the reverse which were used when burying the dead while smaller ones tend to have a few symbols and were used as administrative seals, jewelry, or even to celebrate events.

Authenticity?

I've sent these to a university in the US as well as a university in London to have them examined for dating as well as authenticity. When you purchase from large auction houses, directly from museums, or accredited Antiquities Dealers it is usually possible to obtain genuine items. You can even start collecting Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near East, or more for as little as a few hundred $USD. It is similar to collecting ancient coins, every piece is unique.

Another Look

I didn't want to take it out for another photo shoot but here is a look at it inside his bag.

Disclaimer This was exported from Egypt prior to 1983 and has a clear history on each museum and private collection it was apart of. It has been illegal to export artifacts from Egypt since 1983 and I hope this item does find its way back to a museum in Egypt one day.

Thanks for reading! If theres interest I'd be happy to add the rest of my collection onto Steemit so it can live on the internet forever.