About this artwork
Carved from carnelian, this spherical bead is incised with a cartouche, a protective ring that encircled a king’s name in ancient Egyptian writing. The small hieroglyphs written from right to left inside this cartouche read “Amenemhat,” a name that means “[the god] Amun is in front.” Many ancient Egyptians had multipart names that incorporated a god or goddess’s name, sometimes indicating a personal affinity with them. This bead names one of four kings who bore the name Amenemhat during Egypt’s 12th Dynasty (about 1985–1773 BCE). It has a gold cap at the top and bottom along with a suspension loop so that it can be strung and worn as part of a necklace or other jewelry.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
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Title
- Bead with Name of King Amenemhat
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Place
- Egypt (Object made in)
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Date
- c. 1985 BCE–1777 BCE
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Medium
- Carnelian and gold
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Inscriptions
- Amenemhat
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Dimensions
- 1.9 × 1.4 × 1.4 cm (3/4 × 9/16 × 9/16 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson
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Reference Number
- 1892.23
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/592/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.