Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Seals : Scarab seal [Σ-Κ1925]

Vaulted Tombs of Mesara ➔ Scarab seal

Σ-Κ1925

White material

Very good condition, minor chip.

Length: 2.13 cm. Width: 1.61cm. Height: 0.99 cm.

Lebena

Tomb Ι

Middle Bronze Age. Prepalatial period, Middle Minoan ΙA period. (Middle Kingdom Egypt: 12th Dynasty):

2000 - 1900 BC:

Gallery:

Case:

Exhibition thematic unit:

Early Bronze Age - Prepalatial period (3000 - 1900 BC). Settlements and cemeteries - the rise of ruling groups

The sea roads. Trade and foreign influences

Description

Seal in the typical Egyptian shape of a scarab. Imported from Egypt, it accompanied a Minoan burial in Tomb I at Papouria in Lebena. In Egypt such seals were worn as amulets, but they were also used as grave goods because they were associated with beliefs surrounding the resurrection of the dead. Scarabs were among the first Egyptian items adopted by the Minoans in the late Prepalatial period. The Minoans later copied the shape and material of the Egyptian originals to create locally produced scarabs with Minoan sealing themes.

Bibliography:

Karetsou, A. M. Andreadaki-Vlazaki and N. Papadakis (eds). Κρήτη - Αίγυπτος. Πολιτισμικοί Δεσμοί Τριών Χιλιετιών. Κατάλογος Έκθεσης στο Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ηρακλείου, 21 Νοεμβρίου 1999 - 21 Σεπτεμβρίου 2000. Heraklion, 2000, 306, no. 300. Krzyszkowska, O. Aegean Seals. An Introduction. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies Supplement 85. London, 2005, 73-74. Platon, N. Corpus der Minoischen und Mykenischen Siegel. Band II.1. Iraklion Arch?ologisches Museum. Die Siegel der Vorpalastzeit. Berlin, 1969, nr. 180.

Author:

E. S.

Photographs' metadata