What Does The Scarab Beetle Symbolize?
Scarab Beetle is one of the ancient talismans that is very popular today, and this is not surprising, as it has magical properties. In Ancient Egypt, the Scarab was revered and was considered
a sacred symbol worshiped by the people, and it was called the sacred Scarab. Images of this symbol have been found on frescoes, statues, and papyri.
Hence, it was trendy among the people of the time.
Many were confused about the Scarab Beetle classification as a precious stone or as an insect that the ancient Egyptians considered sacred to them. Still, it is considered one of the most important
and beautiful pharaonic symbols that characterized the murals and decorated some pharaonic coffins. In our time, shapes are made of it in the jewelry many girls use.
With the Rams Road celebrations, which showcase the ancient Egyptian civilization and its greatness, we must know the symbols of our ancient Egyptians.
Today, the Scarab has not lost its relevance. With the establishment of tourist ties with Egypt, people began to bring scarab amulets to Europe as souvenirs.
However, not everyone has an idea of the meaning of this amulet. In this article, we will discuss the history of its occurrence and determine
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What Does This Egyptian Scarab Beetle Talisman Mean, and How to Use it Correctly?
The Scarab beetle is an insect that uses cattle feces as food, and that’s why it’s called a scarab. He rolls balls, and this action takes most of his time.
It seems that watching him is not a pleasant occupation.
The Egyptians noticed that the beetle rolls the balls only in a specific direction, i.e., from east to west. They saw some meaning in it.
They decided that the ball symbolized the sun, and the direction chosen by the beetle was sunrise and sunset, that is, its cyclic path.
After such a discovery, the Scarab became associated among the Egyptians with light.
This phenomenon meant the birth of a new life. Thanks to this, in Egyptian mythology, the Scarab became the personification of the God Khepri – the God of creation and the birth of a new life.
The ancient Egyptians used the powder of this insect to cure infertility. For this, a whole ritual was performed, which is still relevant today.
After that, people began making talismans with this sacred beetle’s image, and they were made of stone. In addition, his image was applied to the walls of houses and temples.
The Egyptians even erected a monument to the Scarab. It is believed that if you make a wish and then make seven circles around the beetle, you can soon expect its fulfillment.
What Does the Scarab Beetle mean in Egyptian?
The primary meaning of the scarab amulets is protection from evil witchcraft. It protects from the evil eye, damage, machinations of envious people, gossip, nasty rumors,
and intrigues and protects the owner from negativity directed in his direction.
Since the Scarab is a symbol of the God Khepri, symbolizing the birth of a new life, its following meaning is that it contributes to the conception of a baby.
Thanks to him, a woman can get pregnant, endure and give birth to a healthy child.
The Scarab has another meaning – it slows down the external processes of aging and helps to preserve beauty and youth,
In addition, talisman protects health
also. With its help, you can improve your financial situation. It brings good luck and happiness.
Scarab Beetle and its Connection to the Sun
Of course, the Ancient Egyptians, who paid so much attention to solar deities, could not help seeing a certain similarity in all this. Just as the sun makes its daily path from east to west,
disappears into darkness and reappears in the east; the Scarab rolls the sphere underground and returns to a new ball.
In addition, the sun, according to the Egyptians, is a holy deity that brings life to everything and, after death – resurrection. Likewise, the developmental cycle of a new insect within the dung
sphere and its birth correlated with the sun’s death and resurrection.
Hence the connection of the Scarab with one of the ancient deities of the Egyptian pantheon – Khepri.
By itself, this God personifies the morning rising sun. In theological understanding, he is one of the three hypostases, along with Ra, the God of daylight, and Atum,
who was in charge of solar affairs from dusk to dawn.
In Egyptian hieroglyphic writing, Khepri was depicted as a man with the head of a scarab. His connection to this insect runs deep and is even reflected in his name,
which means “Arising out of himself.” This alludes to the beetle emerging from the dung sphere in the spring.
Scarab Beetle Symbol in Mythology
In Ancient Egyptian mythology of the ancient Egyptians, there is even a god of sunrise (a particular incarnation of the sun god Ra).
This deity was called Khepri (literally translated as “scarab”), and his appearance made it clear which beetle was worshiped in Ancient Egypt (instead of the head of Khepri,
and sometimes, instead of the absolute deity, he was depicted).
According to Egyptian legend, Khepri, like the Scarab, was born underground.
The insect is associated with the God Khepri. The highest essence means the beginning of life, the conception of a new being. Khepri’s powers are limitless: he rules the universe
and controls the world’s energy. The name of this deity translates as “arising from itself.” The Egyptians believed that peace came when Khepri spoke his word.
In ancient Egypt, the insect accompanied people, symbolizing the resurrection and readiness for a new life.
During mummification, the heart was removed, replacing it with a ceramic amulet with a painted beetle.
In ancient Egypt, images of the scarab beetle were found everywhere.
Faience, clay, marble, and basalt objects were painted blue, purple, and green, and the base was decorated with sacred symbols.
The back of the beetle was considered the meeting point of the earth and sky.
They believed that the insect awakens the best in the human soul and personifies eternal youth.
Why was a Scarab Beetle buried with a Mummy?
The researchers indicated that they placed it since the Middle Kingdom in the chests of the dead after embalming them to seek blessing from it.
The Pharaonic civilization distinguished it, and it was mostly made of faience, or hard stones, such as granite and basalt, as well as from agate, lapis lazuli, and other semi-precious stones.
The ancients used the scarab as a seal since the end of the Old Kingdom. They engraved some engraved marks on its inside to seal a piece of clay, where they fastened it with a thick thread,
to which they tied a lid of a pot, a box, or a papyrus file so that the marks appeared above the surface of the clay to ensure its integrity and not to be tampered with.
The Secret Of The Scarab Beetle in Tutankhamun’s Tomb
In the wrappings of Ancient Egyptian mummies, a unique scarab, known as a heart scarab amulet, was positioned nearly above the heart.
It was significantly more significant than the scarabs worn by live people as seals or amulets, and by the decision of the Book of the Dead, it was typically made out of stone.
Additionally, the Book of the Dead required that a gold frame surround it. The heart scarab Tutankhamun wore and hung around his neck by a ribbon of gold wire
was located close to his navel area. It had a cylindrical hole at the head end for the hanging strap and was made out of black resin that had been put on a gold plate that had been embossed.
On the back of a beetle is a piece of polychrome glass with the image of a heron, which could be an Ardea cinerea or an Ardea purpurea.
The ancient Egyptians believed that the heart was the location of the intelligence in the person. The main goal of the heart scarab was to prevent the seat from
testifying against the deceased owner in his reign before Osiris. It was typically engraved with an incantation taken from the Book of the Dead’s chapter 30b,
and people thought that the words in the chant were the source of at least some of the object’s enchantment.
The Scarab belonging to Tutankhamun has an unusual inscription yet to be deciphered, making it exceptional. But the scarab heart was helpful for more than simply the end of the world.
It represented the sun god’s ability to create new things, and it was believed that he could reanimate a dead person’s heart with this power.
The Role of the Scarab Beetle in the lives of ancient Egyptians
The sacred Scarab, this important religious symbol, accompanied the Egyptians throughout their lives. They were buried with the same talisman.
The Egyptian religion proclaimed the soul’s immortality, which passed into another world after the body’s death, where it continued its journey.
During a person’s lifetime, the scarab amulet in the form of a beetle was intended to bring good luck, prosperity, long life, protect the home, protect from troubles and demons,
bring a rich harvest, and help win God’s favor and patronage.
Scarab Beetle And ancient Egyptian Funerary Traditions
After death, the beetle figurine, as a symbol of resurrection in another world and the soul’s transformation, accompanied the soul and gave it a divine impulse to a new life.
When an Ancient Egyptian of aristocratic origin died, whose body was to be mummified, instead of a heart, the image of scarab amulets was placed on the mummy.
The latter was called upon to resurrect the deceased beyond the threshold of death. The Egyptians believed that the center and focus of human consciousness,
and therefore the habitat of the highest part of the soul, is located in the heart region. Thus, the Scarab represented the seed of new life,
the germ of rebirth. This custom was not static and, as typical of traditions, changed at different times. However, its semantic load has not changed over time.
The Role of the Scarab Beetle in the Afterlife of The Soul
Another role is played by the Scarab embedded in the mummy’s heart. The photo above portrays the scene of the posthumous judgment of the human soul,
as it was represented, whose myths describe this process through the image of weighing the heart of the deceased on the scales. To inherit the best part in another world,
the Dead’s heart should not be heavier than the feather of the goddess Maat – the goddess of wisdom and justice.
Such a heart can only be possessed by a pure and immaculate person whose conscience is not burdened by the atrocities and crimes of earthly life.
Otherwise, the soul would receive retribution. The Scarab thus invoked God as the soul’s witness and just judge of the human conscience and heart.
Probably, he was also considered a symbol of hope for divine mercy and hope for forgiveness for the deceased.
How to Choose and Use the Scarab Beetle Amulet?
The Scarab Beetle talisman has certain spheres of influence:
- Luck. It is believed that bringing good fortune is the most common motive for wearing jewelry. To attract it, the insect must be depicted with unfolded wings. If the amulet is used to attract finance, it must be placed near existing savings. Also, the Egyptian scarab symbol can bring good luck in official activities. To do this, it must be worn closer to the body.
- Security. The amulet should be worn close to the body to protect yourself from the intrigues of competitors and unfriendly persons. By the way, those amulets on which additional security signs are considered the most powerful.
- Studies. The decoration also benefits students, allowing them to develop patience and perseverance.
- House. The Scarab can improve the situation at home. To do this, his figurine should be placed in one of the apartment rooms or identified as a keychain, and such action will protect housing from misfortune.
