About the lot N° 79
Title : AN EGYPTIAN GREEN STONE HEART SCARAB OF NESPTAH, PRIEST OF BASTET, SCRIBE OF 'THE GREAT HOUSE' (PER-AA) OF BASTET
Size : 2 3/8 x 1 in.
6 x 4.5 cmProvenance : Collection of Gavin Todhunter, mainly formed between the late 1940s-1970s: sold Christie's London, 13 May 2003, lot 76. Notes : No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.Please note that the lots of Iranian origin are subject to U.S. trade restrictions which currently prohibit the import into the United States. Similar restrictions may apply in other countries.Please note that descriptions of lots in this catalogue do not include references to condition. Condition reports are available on request. Please contact the Antiquities department administrator.This scarab is inscribed for Nesptah which translates as "The one who belongs to the god Ptah of Memphis". Nesptah was a priest in the cult of Bastet, the cat goddess, whose cult centre was in the Delta city of Bubastis.From the New Kingdom onwards the heart of the deceased, which was left in the mummy, was assisted by a 'heart scarab'. The heart scarab played a fundamental role in the aspired resurrection of the elite members of Egyptian society. It was widely believed that the heart was the seat of one's conscience and, as such, could reveal the true nature of an individual's character. It is for this reason that the culminating ceremony in the Book of the Dead was the Last Judgment, in which the heart of the deceased was weighed against the Feather of Truth in order to determine whether the deceased's testimony was accurate. The heart was believed to be an independent witness, capable of contradicting the deceased's testimony. Thus the prayer inscribed on the above heart scarab is to ensure a favourable judgment. Christie\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s, auctioneer,
It's free to register now to view!
Sale title : Antiquities
Sale date : 13 Oct 2008
It's free to register now to view!
Sale Reference : Live Sale
