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Primary sourceArtifactc. 1479-1458 BC

Scarab Inscribed with the 'Two Ladies' Name of Hatshepsut

c. 1479-1458 BC

A turquoise-glazed scarab bearing Hatshepsut's throne name, from a foundation deposit of her reign.

Inscribed with Hatshepsut's throne name, this scarab was a ritual foundation object from her reign's building works.

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Turquoise-glazed oval scarab amulet with a carved hieroglyphic design on its flat face: a vulture-and-cobra-like bird figure above two boat-like shapes, and below, three upright strokes, a vertical element with a horizontal top, and a boat-shaped sign. Shown against a white background.
Scarab inscribed with the 'Two Ladies' name of Hatshepsut, c. 1479-1458 BC.

About this source

What it is

This is a turquoise-glazed scarab amulet carved with hieroglyphs including Hatshepsut's 'Two Ladies' name. It dates from her reign in the New Kingdom's Eighteenth Dynasty and was used as part of a foundation deposit, a ritual object buried to mark a building project.

Why it matters

Foundation deposits were buried during temple construction ceremonies to bless and legitimize a ruler's building works. This scarab, inscribed with Hatshepsut's name, is a direct physical link to her reign and to the construction projects, such as her great temple, that she commissioned as pharaoh.

Look closer

  • What does the choice of hieroglyphic symbols on the scarab tell you about Egyptian writing and belief?
  • Why would a ruler want their name placed in the foundations of a building?
  • What does this small object suggest about the scale of Hatshepsut's building projects?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hatshepsut on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

Senenmut and/or Hapuseneb (attributed) · c. 1479–1458 BCE

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Secondary source

Hatshepsut Dancing Before Min, Karnak Relief

Carole Reeves · 1989

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Primary source

Punt Expedition Reliefs

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Photograph of a dark grey stone sculpture of a head, mounted on a red rectangular pedestal against a white background. The head has a tall, smooth-topped headdress, carved eyes, nose and mouth, and a worn surface. Catalogue label MM 11423 appears at lower right.Sculpture

Primary source

Sculpture Head Probably of Hatshepsut

Photograph of a seated limestone statue of a figure wearing a royal headcloth with a pleated nemes and a false beard-less face, hands resting on the lap, seated on a block with hieroglyphic inscriptions on its side.Sculpture

Primary source

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