Profesor Waga, hrabina Przezdziecka i egipskie skarabeusze

Antoni Waga (1799–1890), a renowned entomologist and ornithologist, made numerous scientific journeys. He visited Egypt on two occasions, in 1864 and 1879. It is likely that his initial stay was associated with, aside from zoological trophies, two intriguing artefacts. These were plaque-scaraboid and one scarab, of which the only surviving evidence is a water-colour and an ink drawing once made by Countess Maria Przezdziecka (1823–1890). Both are currently held in the collection of the Archive of Science of the Polish Academy of Science and the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences in Kraków (Inv. Nos. K III-141, 24 and 25). In addition to six cartouches of Tuthmosis III (1479–1425 BC), the base of the plaque-scaraboid illustrated in the water- colour features a ceremonial scene of the pharaoh driving a chariot. The base of the scarab illustrated in the ink drawing bears the text „Amun-Re is the Lord of monuments”, while its back displays a deeply incised triple image of a winged scarab. The exceptional detail of the surviving documentation permits a more precise identification of both objects, as belonging to the Men-kheper-Re-group. On the basis of iconographic and stylistic criteria, both unique artefacts, which once belonged to Professor Waga, independently of some objections concerning their authenticity, can be dated to the reign of the Ramesside dynasties (1295–1069 BC).