Egyptian Scarab Amulet - Nefer Maat Sa-Ra - "Beautiful Truth, Son of Ra"

Three views of an ancient scarab seal, showing carved hieroglyphic-like markings on a black background

A beautiful Egyptian steatite scarab engraved with the personal motto Nefer Maat Sa-Ra.

The base reads from left to right: the sun-disk of Ra, the Nefer sign meaning "beautiful, perfect, good", the Maat feather for "truth and justice", and the title Sa-Ra - "Son of Ra" - plus a standing figure in adoration before a shrine. The full inscription translates as "Nefer-Maat, Son of Ra" or "Beautiful is the Truth of the Son of Ra".

This is a private motto scarab, not a royal seal. In the New Kingdom, private individuals used royal phraseology for magical protection. By calling himself "Son of Ra" and invoking Maat, the goddess of cosmic order and truth, the owner placed himself under the protection of the sun god himself. Nefer-Maat was a popular personal name and good-luck wish meaning "Perfect is Truth" or "Beautiful is Justice".

The scarab itself is finely carved with a naturalistic back - distinct head, clypeus and wing cases, deeply notched side plates with legs, and the typical longitudinal piercing for suspension as an amulet. The steatite has a warm, mottled patina ranging from cream to brown, with traces of the original pale glaze preserved in the recesses. The intaglio is deep and crisp, with smooth ancient wear.

A charming amulet that combines personal piety, royal ideology and solar rebirth symbolism - the scarab god Khepri rolling the sun across the sky.

Full Details:

  • Object: Private Name / Motto Scarab - Nefer Maat Sa-Ra

  • Translation: "Beautiful Truth, Son of Ra" / "Nefer-Maat, Son of Ra"

  • Period: New Kingdom, ca. 1550-1070 BC, 19th Dynasty type

  • Material: Glazed steatite, with ancient patina and glaze remnants

  • Dimensions: 1.6 x 1.0 cm (16 x 10 mm)

  • Base: Deeply incised with Nefer, Maat, Ra and Sa signs + adoring figure, fully legible

  • Top: Well-modeled scarab, notched legs, pierced lengthwise

  • Condition: Very good, ancient wear, complete

  • Provenance: Donald Wonder Collection (1938-2023), California & New Jersey, USA, thence by descent, with old handwritten tag "Son of Ra"

Price € 250,—

Ancient coin attached to a handwritten identification tag reading “Egyptian ...” on a red cord against a black background