Bead with Name of King Amenemhat

This spherical bead is incised with a cartouche, a protective ring that encircled a king’s name in ancient Egyptian writing. The small hieroglyphs written from right to left inside this cartouche read “Amenemhat,” which means “[the god] Amun is in front.” Many ancient Egyptians had multipart names that incorporated a god or goddess’s name, sometimes indicating a personal affinity with them. This bead names one of four kings who bore the name Amenemhat during Egypt’s Twelfth Dynasty (about 1985–1773 BCE). It is pierced through the middle so that it can be strung and worn as part of a necklace or other jewelry.