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Wild Bull Hunt Scarab of Amenhotep III
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Large commemorative scarabs are characteristic of Amenhotep III’s reign. About 200 are known, and all are inscribed with texts on their undersides, recording significant events in the life of the king and queen. This particular scarab is one of only 5 known examples that describe a royal bull hunt undertaken in his second year of rule, in which the king killed 96 bulls. More than just a pastime, the king’s success as a hunter symbolized the triumph of royal order over the forces of nature and chaos.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineWild Bull Hunt Scarab of Amenhotep III, c. 1391–1353 BCE. Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BCE). Steatite; overall: 10.5 x 6.6 x 2.5 cm (4 1/8 x 2 5/8 x 1 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Betty and Max Ratner, 1984.36
