Scarab
Date2160-1479 BC
MediumStone
DimensionsObject/Work: 21 x 17 mm
ClassificationsReligious/Ritual Equipment
Terms
Object numberC07068
DescriptionSmall black stone scarab, with a ridged base, and legs depicted on its underside.Scarabs were used as amuletic jewellery both for the living and the deceased.
Due to the beetles ability to push balls of dung for great distances the Egyptians linked it to the movement of the solar disk across the sky. The sun disk was pushed by the god Khepri who is depicted as a scarab beetle. In addition to this the Egyptians witnessed the new born scarabs seemingly spontaneously burst into life from the balls of dung. For this reason the scarab became a symbol of spontaneous generation, new life and resurrection.
The introduction of the heart scarab in the First Intermediate Period produced scarabs meant for use in a funerary context. It was placed over the heart of the mummy and was meant to stop the heart speaking out against the deceased at the weighing of the heart ceremony. The idea was that any who possessed one could lead a blameless life and enter the afterlife with ease. This was important in the Third Intermediate Period as it was a period of unrest, which resulted in tombs being sacked and the dead dug up and not reburied.
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