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Scarabs

Chapter 32: PLATE XI. SCARABS OF OFFICIALS OF THE TWELFTH TO FOURTEENTH DYNASTIES.
By Percy E. Newberry
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About This Book

A systematic introduction to ancient Egyptian seals and signet rings that explains their origins, functions, and methods of manufacture. It surveys practical uses—securing property, authenticating documents, and transferring authority—and outlines the officials and engravers involved. The work classifies and describes a wide range of forms, including cylinder seals, button-shaped types, beetle-shaped scarabs, and various signet rings, offering technical commentary and comparative typology. Extensive illustrations and plates accompany the text, and the volume includes indices of personal and royal names and of titles to support identification and further research.

PLATE XI.
 
SCARABS OF OFFICIALS OF THE TWELFTH TO FOURTEENTH DYNASTIES.

1. “The Governor of the (Royal) City and Vezîr, Ptah-dedut-senb, justified.” H-P. 3726. A clay impression of a somewhat similar seal (of the Vezîr Ŷ-meru) was found by Prof. Petrie at Abydos.

2. “The Governor of the (Royal) City and Vezîr, Auŷ.” Murch. This Vezîr is mentioned on a stela in Vien. (No. 117; cf. Rec. des trav., IX, 62.)

3. “The Scribe of the Vezîr, Ren-ef-senb.” Thomp.

4. “The Superintendent of the Seal, Neb-re-sehui.” L. 6288. Three other scarabs of this official are known: one is in the v-B. Coll. (Fr. Sc. 90), another is in the Fitzw. Mus. (Budge, Cat. 155), and the third is in Mr. Nahmann’s hands in Cairo.

5. “The Superintendent of the Seal, Up-em-heb.” Gr.

6. “The Superintendent of the Seal, Senba.” Gr. Another scarab of this official is in the B.M. (24108, P. Sc. 445.)

7 and 8. “The Superintendent of the Seal, Senb-su-ma.” (Gr. and M-G.) Several other scarabs of Senb-su-ma are known. Three are figured by Petrie (Sc. 446-448), from the Louvre, Petrie and Grant Colls.; other specimens are in the Cairo Mus., the Amh. Coll. and the Edws. Coll. A beautiful light blue glazed specimen was found at Kahûn (P. I. VIII, 42), its provenance and style pointing to the late Twelfth Dynasty as the date of this official. Senb-su-ma is named on several stelae; one, in the Cairo Mus., gives the name of his father, Sert-taui (M. Cat. Ab. 784); another, in the Leyd. Mus. (V. 106) names his wife, “the Lady Tau-ma;” a third stela, in the Cairo Mus. (M. Cat. Ab. 904) gives the name of his son, the ari at abu, Pepa, whose scarab seal is in the Meux Coll. (Budge, Cat. 455). Senb-su-ma’s name also occurs on stelae in the B.M. (252); in the Ermitage Mus., St. Petersburg (58); and in the Turin Mus. (1303). His tomb was at Dahshûr, a slab of stone from it having been found in the cemetery of that place (M. Mast., p. 583).

9. “The Superintendent of the Seal, Yu-senb.” v-B. (Fr. Sc. 86.)

10. “The Superintendent of the Seal, Amenhetep.” v-B. (Fr. Sc. 91.) Three other scarabs of this State Officer are known: one, with continuous loop-pattern around the name, was found at Abydos (M.D. 52 f.), and is figured in Pl. XVI, 3; another is in the Petrie Coll., and the third is in the v-B. (Fr. Sc. 87.)

11. “The Superintendent of the Seal, Herfu.” L.

12. “The Superintendent of the Seal, Erde-ne-Ptah.” B. 17230. Another specimen is in the Petrie Coll.

13. “The Deputy Superintendent of the Seal, Sehetep-ab-ra.” C.M. From Abydos. (M. Cat. Ab. p. 541; cf. M.D., pl. 48 m.)

14. “The Scribe of the Superintendent of the Seal, Nehesi.” P.

15. “The Mayor, Tehuti-nekht.” Amh. This scarab was bought in Cairo in 1899, and came with many other antiquities from the tomb of Tehuti-nekht at El Bersheh. Hence it can be dated to the reign of Usertsen I, or at latest to the early years of Amenemhat II (see Griffith and Newberry, El Bersheh II, p. 13); it is consequently the oldest absolutely dated scarab of an official known.

16. “The Mayor, Amenemhat-senb-ne-Hather-ab.” L. Found in Phoenicia.

17. “The Mayor, Amenemhat.” L.

18. “The Mayor, Auŷ-mes.” B.M. 21906.

19. “The Great Uartu of the (Royal) City, Sa-sebek.” -G. Another scarab of this official, ornamented with a continuous loop decoration, is in the v-B. (Fr. Sc. 118.)

20. “The Uartu of the Ruler’s Table, Sebekhetep, son of the Uartu of the Ruler’s Table, Mentuhetep.” Ashm. Several other scarabs of this official are known; two specimens are in the Louvre (P. Sc. 389, 391); another is in the Turin Mus. (1134; Klaproth, Palin Coll. 1113); a fourth is in the Cairo Mus. (3795; from Abydos, M. Cat. Abyd., p. 541; cf. M.D. pl. 48 n); and a fifth and well preserved example is in the Petrie Coll.

21. “The Great General Pehui-ef-hu?” Murch.

22. “The General, Hora.” Ashm.

23. “The Superintendent of the Mentiu (Asiatics), Ren-senb.” Evans.

24. “The Superintendent of the Great Kitchen (?) Herŷt (?)-si-hetep.” Murch.

25. “The King’s Friend, the Superintendent of the Musicians, Neb-qemiu.” Murch. A stela of this man, in the Cairo Mus. (M. Cat. Abyd. 813), gives the names of his father, Hora, and mother, Sefget, and certainly dates from the period of the Sebekhetep kings.

26. “The Surveyor, Nefer-sebek-dedu.” B.M. 28235.

27. “The Royal Scribe ... Aka-senb-na.” Murch.

28. “The Private Sealer, Sa-hather-aa.” Murch.

29. “The Storekeeper, Neb-seshenu.” Murch.

30. “The Instructor of the Followers, Deda, son of the Instructor of the Followers, Beba.” Murch.