Scarabaeus sacer
Quick Summary
The Scarabaeus sacer, commonly known as the sacred scarab, is a type of dung beetle that held significant importance in ancient Egyptian religion. This beetle was revered as a symbol of the sun god Khepri, who was believed to roll the sun across the sky each morning, much like the scarab rolls its ball of dung. The scarab hieroglyph, Kheper, represented concepts such as existence, manifestation, and growth. Consequently, the scarab beetle was a popular motif for amulets and seals throughout Egyptian history. These scarab amulets, often made of glazed steatite, were used as ornaments, seals, and symbolic representations of resurrection.1234
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