Scarab ring

The Scarab ring is a style of finger ring featuring a small sculpture of a scarab as the bezel that was popular in the Egyptian Middle Kingdom and later.^[1][2] They generally incorporated an inscription on the base of the scarab but not always.^[1][2]

The bezel design was developed in the late Old Kingdom as a signet/amulet with the scarab representing the god Ra.^[2] Glazed steatite was the most popular material although where the scarab have been in damp conditions the glazing may not have survived until the present day.^[2][3] Originally they were tied to the fingers with thread but later gold wire, with coils patterned after the thread, was used.^[2] Scarab rings with thicker hoops developed during the Second Intermediate Period.^[2] The scarab itself was mounted with a gold wire running through its centre on which it could swivel.^[2] As well as gold silver was used.^[3]

A final development was during the Amarna Period where instead of being carved the scarab was cast as part of the ring.^[2] At the same time faience copies of the rings were made.^[2]

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