the Book of the Dead ( PDF )

Plate IV.
in outline; but it is sometimes traced in red ink (No. 7915), or in gold (No. 15,518). Incuse hieroglyphics
are sometimes filled with gold (No. 7881). The name of the person with whom the scarab was buried
usually precedes the text of the Chapter of the Heart; but in many instances blank spaces are found left
without insertion of the name--a proof that i, these amulets were bought ready-made. The base however
is often quite plan (Nos. 7965, 7966), or figures of Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys occupy the place of the
usual inscription (Nos. 15,500, 15,507). The backs of scarabs are generally quite plain, but we find
examples inscribed with figures of the boat of the Sun Osiris, with flail and crook the bennu bird, and the
u'tat (No. 7883), Ra and Osiris (No. 15,507), and the bennu bird with the inscription neteri ab en Ra, "the
mighty heart of Ra" (No. 7878). A finehard, green stone scarab of the Greek or Roman period has upon
the back the figures of four Greek deities (No. 7966). In rare instances, the beetles have a human face
(Nos. 7876, 15,516) or head (No. 7999). Carefully made scarabs have usually a band of gold across and
down the back where the wings join: an example of the late period (No. 7977) has the whole of the back
gilded. The scarab was set in a gold oval ring, at one end of which was a smaller ring for suspension
from the neck or for attachment to the bandages of the mummy (No. 15,504). The green glazed faïence
scarab of Thothmes III. (No. 18,190) was suspended by a gold chain from a bronze torque. A thick gold
wire to fit the neck is attached to No. 24,401. The base of the scarab is sometimes in the form of a heart
(Nos. 7917, 7925). A remarkable example of this variety is No. 7925, in which are
[1. The fifth king of the IVth dynasty.
2. This prince is said to have been a very learned man, whose speech was difficult to be understood (see Wiedemann, Aeg.
Geschichte., p. 191).
3. For the hieroglyphic text, see pp. 13-15. This rubric was published by Birch, Aeg. Zeitschrift, p. 54; and by Rosellini,
Breve Notizia interno un frammento di Papiro funebre Egizio essistente nel ducale museo di Parma; Parma, 1839, 8vo.]
{p. 263}
the emblems of "life," "stability," and "protection," engraved on the upper part of the base. Across the
back of this scarab is -- ###;[1] On the right wing:-- ### and on the left ###[2]. A highly polished, fine
green basalt scarab with human face (No. 7876) is set in a gold base, upon the face and edges of which
are cut part of the Chapter of the Heart. At a period subsequent to the XXIInd dynasty inscribed funereal
scarabs in marble, paste, etc., were set in pylon-shaped pectorals made of Egyptian porcelain, glazed
blue, green, or yellow, which were sewed to the mummy bandages over the heart. On such pectorals the
boat of the Sun is either traced in colours or worked in relief, and the scarab is placed so as to appear to
be carried in the boat; on the left stands Isis, and on the right Nephthys (Nos. 7857, 7864, 7866).
Next: Plates V. and VI.
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