Anra scarabs arescarabseals dating to theSecond Intermediate Period found in theLevant,Egypt andNubia.[1] Anra scarabs are identified by anundeciphered and variable sequence ofEgyptian hieroglyphs on the base of the scarab which always include the symbolsa,n andr.[2] As anra scarabs have overwhelmingly been found inPalestine (~80%), it has been suggested it was marketed by the contemporaneous15th Dynasty for theCanaanites.[3]: 277
The artifacts have tentatively been associated with the godsEl andRa, who were identified with each other in theRamesside Period.
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| ʿ-n-r-ʿ anra inhieroglyphs | ||
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| Era:2nd Intermediate Period (1650–1550 BC) | ||
Scarab seals were produced in vast numbers for many centuries and many thousands have survived. They were generally intended to be worn or carried by the living. They were typically carved or moulded in the form of a scarab beetle (usually identified asScarabaeus sacer) with varying degrees of naturalism but usually at least indicating the head, wing case and legs but with a flat base. The base was usually inscribed with designs or hieroglyphs to form an impression seal.
Whilst some consider the anra sequence on the base of scarabs to be nonsense and random,[4]: 18 others consider it to have a more specific meaning.[5] The sequence would have been considered important as it was included on the royal name scarabs of the pharaohSenusret I and on a cylinder seal of Hyksos kingKhyan. It was also reused byRamesses II.[6]
Some scholars consider the anra scarabs were used only for its amuletic qualities, and that the seals found in Palestine were an adaptedCanaanite form of anEgyptian funerary custom, transmitted through Asiatics living in theNile Delta.[7]: 11 Murray argued that the skill and subsequent cost of producing anra scarabs would not have been spent haphazardly on ignorant copies of misunderstood inscriptions, and must have been important and relayed meaning to the wearer. The Canaanites often incorporated Egyptian iconography into their designs, but in such a manner to suggest that they understood what they were using.[8]
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Fiona Richards proposed that the addedḥtp symbol to the anra sequence found on scarabs equates to the Canaanite deityEl. As this anra sequence is confined to Palestine, it could mean it was deliberately marketed for them specifically.[9] As the princes ofByblos adopted Egyptian titles and the use of Egyptian symbols permeated Syrianglyptic, the use of El by the Egyptians would not seem out of place if considered at a time of heightened socio-political ties.[10]
It has been suggested that when the inscriptions are presented in their full, unshortened form, it equates to the godRa. El is equated to Ra, and they are identified as one and the same in theRamesside Period.[11]: 10–11 Hornung and Staehelin associated the formula with a spell connected to Ra.[12]
Schulman interprets the sequence as texts written in a secret, enigmatic manner, comprehensible only to the initiate, which served to increase and enhance the potency of the charm.[13][14]
Due to associations with royal emblems (75% of all anra scarabs are associated with signs and symbols of Egyptian royalty), Murray proposed that it could be possible that these scarabs were intended to "commemorate the solemn ceremony of the giving of the Re-name to the king, and to protect the name where given."[15][9]
It has been put forward that the inscriptions are associated with the "abracadabra" magical words that exist in Egyptian magical texts.[16]
Daphna Ben-Tor argues that the anra sequence did not have a specific meaning, but was rather treated as a generic group of good luck symbols with Egyptian prestige value.[17]
The anra sequence could have its origins in the Neferzeichen (royal power or blessing) patterns of theMiddle Kingdom.[18][1]: 26
Weill believed that it was associated with a king of the same name.[19]
Anra scarabs have been found atarchaeological sites throughout the Levant, Egypt and Nubia. Notable sites include:Ras Shamra,Byblos,Beth-shan,Pella,Memphis,Shechem,Gezer,Shiloh,Amman,Gerar,Tell El-Dab'a,Esna,Debeira,Mirgissa,Jericho andRishon.[9]: 299 They have been found amongst precious objects such as gold, gemstones and weapons at a higher rate than other scarabs found intombs,[9]: 275, 268 and they have been discovered in the archaeological remains of palaces, temples, sanctuaries and residences of high ranking officials.[9]
In Egypt and Nubia, the anra scarabs that have been found stay closer to the original three sign sequence without the supplementary Egyptian iconography more prevalent in the Levant.[20]
Eighty percent of all Anra scarabs were found in Palestine, it would appear that this scarab was marketed specifically by the 15th dynasty for the Palestinian market
