This magnificent chest, "Winged Beetle", with almost three others identical, was around the neck of the first psousennes mummy.
Ladybug, 6.5 cm long and 4.5 cm wide, golden pear, working in a dark green gassette. Its shape is repeated with sincerity and very detail: it reveals accurate observation and perfect workmanship.
Its wings consist of 21 horizontal lines studded with gold and septum. It is inlaid with multiple chrome stones of intriguing contrast, alternating the warm and cold colours of jaspe red, black glass, red, blue ...
In front of the beetle lies a beautiful golden cartridge on the horizontal side, the ends of which depend on both sides. It is registered in the name of the birth of Pharaoh Psusennes the First "pasebakbaenniut Mormon" (literally the star who appeared in the city, the beloved of Amon). Each brand works individually, with all craftsmanship, application and perfection. "The craftsman gave special care to making hieroglyphic signs, which were implemented with hard multi-chrome stones thanks to the barrier technique (small stoneworks determined by golden features, filled with coloured stones or glass paste)."
The strong symbolic range is highlighted by the presence of the Shane sign. "The beetle grows tirelessly, a cartridge in the name of the king, as it hangs behind the Sheen sign of eternity." (Treasures of Egypt - Wonders of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Francesco Tiradritti).
In addition, to increase the power of the talisman, his protection improved "Chapter 30 of the Book of the Dead, which calls for turning the deceased not to testify against him in the last ruling" engraved on the plate of the Ladybug.
The symbol of renewal, the Renaissance, and the Ladybug amulet are often found in Egyptian jewellery. As Gaston Maspero reminds us: "The beetle, which took a sacred slogan, represents Khobry, the sunrise, the sun that happens (Khupro) every morning, and that is born again after she died the night before the previous day." It also indicates that “Khubru’s roots” become. ”Therefore, at a good time in Egypt, it became the slogan of human life and became successive to the soul in the other world.”
The necklace hangs "Using Beetle-Wing Identification Rings, Double Chain Pearls, Gold and Colored Stones". This chain, 42 cm long, is finished by delicate and beautiful flower balance, consisting of strips of gold-covered glass paste.
On February 16, 1940, the great Egyptian Frenchman Pierre Montet discovered, in the necrosis of Tanis, a tomb of Psusennes ... "The basement that first opened was furnished mainly by the large granite sarcophagus in which we brought the four, a large neighbour of alabaster and wooden boxes ... on Coffin tank, psousennes names are read everywhere. "
The body of the pharaoh is found in the "third silver sarcophagus carved inside and outside." Then he continues his story: "The mummy, all wearing golden clothes that she depended on a silver plaque, has six hoops, twenty-two bracelets wrist, four of the knee, ankle, chest, beetle and hearts, fingers and golden sandal, more than thirty rings, all with a taste Ideal ".
In "Discovering the Treasures of Tanis," George Joyon, who was also part of the mission, recalls: "We could have enjoyed the golden talisman of necklaces, two large and elegant chest of stones and delicate stones, many beetles of all sizes in the lasers or sometimes their cable in Background chapter of the Book of the Dead.
King Farouk Siyati personally - accompanied by a large pavilion - to attend the opening of the coffin. We cannot help but discovering such a treasure had at least no effect compared to the discovery of Tottenkhumun ... But the world was at war, and the increasingly global conflict is taking lives. In this particularly precarious context, immediate security of the safe is required. She was transported to Cairo in a military truck and under escort.
At that time, we can enjoy a wonderful revelation of "Northern Thebes" in the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, especially this chest which was recorded in the newspaper of the entrances under references 85788-85789.
The inspection of Tanis will connect many other wonders, and in 1987, the exhibition "Tanis of the Pharaohs Gold" organized by Jean Yoyot in the Grand Palace in Paris will allow the French to discover many of these treasures.
Mary Grillot
Explanatory: The chest with a winged beetle is found on the mummy of Psusennes the first that was discovered without his grave in Tanis on February 1940 by Cairo Museum -
