Keywords: Egyptian - Scarab with Cat and Title of Shepenwepet - Walters 4248 - Transcription.jpg This scaraboid faience amulet is inscribed on the bottom with the name and title of the divine consort Shepenwepet The top is carved with the three-dimensional representation of a cat facing the right with the head turned to the front The workmanship is a little rough but detailed This piece functioned as an individualized amulet of the Divine Consort Shepenwepet II and was originally mounted or threaded The image of a cat with kittens conveys the idea of fertility renewal and protection and the name of Shepenwepet the individualization The amulet should secure the divine status royal authority of the Divine Consort as well as her presence and renewal It is possible that the amulet was created for the personal use of Shepenwepet but it is also likely that it was given to a private person to guarantee her patronage The identification of the lying animal as a cat is possible by posture content and comparision but the round shapes of the ears are a little uncommon and seem more canine Nevertheless the attitude of the animal and the context make identification as cat most likely ca 700 656 BC Third Intermediate-Late Period light beige faience with green-blue glaze cm 0 9 1 4 1 8 accession number 42 48 24458 Henry Walters Baltimore date and mode of acquisition unknown Walters Art Museum Henry Walters Acquired by Henry Walters Translation Name with cartouche and titles of the Divine Consort of Amun Shepenwepet Divine consort divine worshipper / Shep-en-wepet place of origin Thebes present-day Luxor Egypt Walters Art Museum license 2D Ancient Egyptian scarabs in the Walters Art Museum Hieroglyphs on scarabs Shepenupet II |