Scarab (base)

A scarab is an ancient Egyptian amulet in the form of a dung beetle, symbolic of regeneration. As time went on, scarabs developed into use as personal seals. This example of faience dates from around 1539 to 1295 BC.

This picture shows the base of the scarab. It has been incised with a hieroglyphic motif, including one for the goddess Maat. Maat was the goddess of truth, order and law.

Egyptian hieroglyphs were pictures representing objects or sounds. They were sacred symbols, and closely linked to religion. Complicated and difficult to write, different scripts were developed over time for legal and administrative writing and for daily use.

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