Scarabs have long been seen as a sign of renewal in ancient Egyptian culture. Representing the sun each morning, scarabs also represent life itself and are associated with Khepri.
Ancient Egyptians observed that dung beetles emerged from mounds of animal waste, leading them to link these beetles with Khepri. According to them, every morning, as Khepri emerged from their earthly habitats, so did the sun rise over the horizon each morning with these insects emerging from earthly mounds.
It was a symbol of rebirth.
The scarab was one of the most beloved symbols in ancient Egyptian culture, appearing as amulets, jewellery and even funerary contexts. Modelled after dung beetles that lay their eggs on waste mounds before rolling those balls up again into new nests to form new homes, it stood as a powerful symbol for life, renewal, rebirth and Khepri, god of sunrise and rebirth.
Hollywood blockbusters may lead us to believe otherwise, but scarabs do not eat flesh; rather, they simply reserve balls of excrement from other animals to feed on. Ancient Egyptians were fascinated with this behaviour and saw it as a symbolic representation of renewal – similar to how the sunrise and sunset cycles correspond with earthly growth and renewal cycles.
Scarabs were ubiquitous symbols in Egypt and were frequently used as seals on letters, official documents, bags, and jars to signify rebirth and fertility – they even served as amulets against evil while promising success! Their round shape reminded Egyptians of the hieroglyph for rebirth while simultaneously representing sexual energy – giving scarabs added significance as powerful amulets against any misfortune that might arise and to bring good fortune and protect from danger.
Scarabs were believed to offer protection and rebirth in the afterlife for both humans and deceased Egyptians alike. The mummification process involved placing one on each heart to prevent souls from testifying at the judgment of the dead. Furthermore, Egyptians believed that the deceased could reincarnate as humans, animals or birds if buried with one placed within their heart.
Ancient Egyptian scarabs were made from various materials, such as faience and steatite, as well as gemstones like turquoise, amethyst, green and red jasper and lapis lazuli; as time progressed, their popularity led to wedding scarabs bearing wedding spells or good wishes; starting during the Middle Kingdom, they also became royal seals engraved with names of Pharaohs for use as royal seals.
You may also like: Sacred Creatures of Ancient Egypt – Veneration of Animals
It was a symbol of protection.
Scarabs were widely seen as symbols of protection and rebirth in ancient Egyptian culture, often being inscribed on mummies to ensure protection in the afterlife and associated with sun god Khepri, who rose each morning as though born from dust again. Its significance can also be found today when young Egyptian children look forward to celebrating rebirth each morning when Khepri rises again from beneath his dirt bed to take his place as the god who rises again like an immortal.
The scarab was another symbol of rebirth and eternal life for ancient Egyptians, symbolizing it through its ability to lay eggs on waste piles that hatch out, creating offspring as it regenerates itself – an integral aspect of its significance for them. The insect could reproduce without needing a partner and produce offspring without mating with anyone, an aspect which was important in its significance for ancient Egypt.
Ancient Egyptians believed that those who died with a scarab could resurrect themselves each morning like their beetle counterpart and achieve immortality. Hence, scarabs were often engraved with the names of the deceased on tombs or sarcophagi in the Valley of Kings and Queens; additionally, they would often use one during Osiris’ heart weighing ceremony to assist their soul’s journey into heaven.
Scarabs were popular art pieces made of many stones, becoming ever more sought-after as time progressed. Scarabs could be inlaid into jewellery or made into beads for necklaces; often, these scarabs were inscribed with names of pharaohs or royal officials engraved into them; some even featured short prayers or mottoes carved onto them.
By the New Kingdom, scarabs had become one of the primary symbols in Egyptian society, replacing cylinder seals and circular “button seals.” Small lapis lazuli scarabs could be found widely sold at markets throughout Egypt; larger scarabs were placed into mummy wrappings to protect the dead on their journey to the afterlife; they were often placed at the heart’s centre as this symbolically represented where one held one’s mind.
Scarabs were often created to commemorate certain royal achievements, such as lion hunting or bull hunting. For example, Eighteenth Dynasty Pharaoh Thuthmosis III commemorated his victories by having scarabs bearing his throne name, Men Kheper Re (“the justice of Ra is powerful”). This tradition continued into the Twenty-fifth Dynasty when Kushite Pharaoh Shabaka had scarabs engraved with his User Maat Re (“the goodness of Ra is great”) scarabs made to mark special events or occasions such as when commemorations took place.
It was a symbol of fertility.
Scarabs were an ancient Egyptian symbol of fertility and were associated with the god Khepri. Used as amulets and impression seals, scarab beetles could be personalized with names or images as protective charms to bring good fortune and symbolize renewal and strength – the Egyptians saw this beetle’s ability to drag 50 times its body weight as an analogy for human strength! Longevity and immortality also became symbols for scarab beetles.
Scarab beetles were traditionally linked with the sun god Khepri, whom they saw reborn each morning at sunrise. These beetles would roll large balls of dung that became symbolic of their return with each sunrise; their ability to lay eggs without male support also signified immortality and immortality for many ancient cultures.
During the New Kingdom, scarabs gained religious significance. Some scarabs bore inscribed names of deities or religious figures and were placed alongside tombs to provide protection and aid the journey to the afterlife for deceased individuals. Large scarabs could even be worn as pectoral amulets on front of mummy wrappings as an added precautionary measure.
Some scarabs carved during this period depicted a winged scarab as the god of fertility and prosperity, providing amulet protection from evil and promising success both here and in life after. It was believed to protect wearers against harm while providing wealth both here and in life after.
Scarabs were often seen as symbols of both death and rebirth; their presence supposedly signalled bad luck or misfortune, while their presence signalled happiness and good fortune.
Scarabs were made increasingly significant during the late Eighteenth Dynasty, and by the Twenty-fifth Dynasty, they had become an important commemorative tool, often made to remember significant events or people. By the Twenty-fifth Dynasty, scarabs were regularly produced as memorials to important events or people; many scarabs produced to honour pharaohs bore their throne name, though not necessarily produced during their reign; for instance, scarabs bearing Thuthmosis III (1504-1450 BCE) Men Kheper Re dates back to his reign but could possibly be produced hundreds of years after his death.
It was a symbol of death.
Scarabs were an iconic symbol in ancient Egyptian mythology, religion and hieroglyphics. Derived from a type of dung beetle found throughout Egypt called a scarab beetle, they became widely associated with Khepri, their sun god. Similar to how sunrise occurs each morning with new life emerging through new beginnings, the scarab became associated with Khepri as it spread its ball of dung across the ground – thus symbolizing his process of renewal through life rebirth/reneedance associated with their gods; thus becoming associated with Khepri and as such scarabs became one of his main symbols representing his deification/rejuvenation throughout Egyptian mythology/religion/hieroglyphics/hieroglyphics as scarabs became symbols representing him as well.
The scarab was considered to be an ancient Egyptian symbol of the life-giving powers of nature and could bring new life from beyond death. Egyptians believed its powers had passed onto the deceased to use in resurrecting themselves after death; Egyptians also considered beetles a gift from gods that could help give sound limbs.
Scarabs were the primary form of seal during the Old Kingdom period. Scarabs replaced cylinder seals and circular button seals with simple geometric designs, replacing their predecessor’s cylinder seals and circular button seals with scarabs bearing names of officials or embossed with prayers or mottos for official use as seals. By the Middle Kingdom period, they were frequently inscribed with these officials’ names for official seal use; by the New Kingdom period, scarabs had become engraved with god names to serve as official seals.
Heart scarabs were commonly employed as funerary artefacts and integrated into the bands of deceased mummies for use during funerary processes. Engraved with names of Pharaohs or religious figures, they were designed to assist deceased souls on their journey into the afterlife as well as provide transformations or becomings for future lives while justifying themselves before Gods.
Today, the scarab remains an iconic Egyptian image and can be found everywhere, from jewellery designs to tattoos. Symbolizing fertility, prosperity, protection, rebirth and tattooing regrowth – scarab pendants or amulets can often be found at Egyptian markets or souvenir shops.
