Scarab

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 amethyst dates from the 2nd Intermediate Period (around 1759 to 1539 BC).

This picture shows the front of the scarab. The carving outlines the features of the dung beetle. Unlike many other scarabs, the base is plain.

The scarab became associated with Khephri, the god of the rising sun. The Egyptians believed that he rolled across the sky the ball of sun that appeared reborn every morning, just as the dung beetle rolls a ball of dung over the sand.

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