Scarab
Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
MEDIUM Faience (9/16 × 1/2 × 1/4 in.)
ACCESSION NUMBER 23.3.244
The MET
The little faience scarab pictured above bears an inscription with the ancient Egyptian royal title 𓇓𓆤 (n(j)sw(t)-bjtj), which usually gets translated as a "king" or a "pharaoh". This translation is however inaccurate and vague at best as it doesn't really reflect the specific cultural connotations this title has in Ancient Egyptian.
The royal title 𓇓𓆤 (n(j)sw(t)-bjtj) consists of 3 morphological components:
1) n(j) - the genitival adjective expressing a sense of possession and belonging,
2) swt - sedge,
3) bjtj - a derivative adjective (nisbe) stemming from the word for bee (bjt).
Thus the title could be translated as "the one belonging to the Sedge and one of the Bee". The Sedge and the Bee could be understood as the symbolic figures for the Upper Egypt (the Sedge) and the Lower Egypt (the Bee).
The final form of this royal name (from the 5th Dynasty onwards the Egyptian ruler would traditionally use 5 royal titles) appeared in the reign of Den (1st Dynasty) and was then adopted by the subsequent kings.
