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Material : Gold , Lapis Lazuli , Pale Green and Red Faience
Width : 5 Height : 7
Found in : Tanis , Tomb of Psusennes I , Grave of Sheshonq II (1940)
Period : Third Intermediate Period
Reign of : Sheshonq II
Dynasty: XXII
Belonged_to: Sheshonq II
Archeologist : PIERRE MONTET
This highly artistic pectoral was found in the grave of Sheshonq II in the Tomb of Psusennes I in Tanis . Belonging to King Sheshonq II , the third ruler of the Twenty-second Dynasty , this pendant is decorated with a frieze of upturned closed and open papyrus flowers at the lower section . Topping this part is a large lapis lazuli scarab holding the gold sun disc with its front legs . Ancient Egyptians noticed that the female scarab lays its eggs in a ball of dung and rolls it to hide in a safe place . From this they observed new life emerging . Similarly , they believed that Khephri (a gigantic scarab) rolled the sun like a huge ball through the sky , then rolled it through the underworld to the eastern horizon . Each morning Khephri would renew the sun so that it could give life to the entire world . Flanking the scarab which symbolizes the rebirth of the King are two cobras wearing the White Crown with their sinuous coils passing through a shen circle to touch the sun disc . Skillfully portrayed , the bodies of the uraeus serpents are decorated with pale green and red faience .
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