A jewelry element in the form of an inlaid bee

Middle Kingdom

Not on view

This ornament depicts a bee sipping at a flower(?). The insect's wings were once positioned as if the bee had just settled. The three dimensional nature of this ornament is unusual as most ancient Egyptian jewelry was flat or created from flat pieces. Is seems likely that this accessory was for the hair or an element of an elaborate hair ornament like a diadem.

Link to a blog post
Jewelry from the Haraga Treasure, United at the Met

A jewelry element in the form of an inlaid bee, Silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and turquoise

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