Sacred Scarab story
“I fly up as a bird and alight as a scarab beetle
on the empty throne which is in your bark, O Ra!”
Pyramid Texts, Spell 366 (ca. 2350 B.C.)
The sacred Scarab (Scarabeus sacer) was a symbol of resurrection and regeneration in ancient Egypt, called Khepri – god of creation, movement of the sun and rebirth. They made a connection between the movement of the sun across the sky and the movement of the ball of dung pushed by the beetle, as the scarabs rolled their pellets from east to west.
Sacred Scarab (Scarabaeus sacer), the most famous of the dung beetles. Both adults and larvae feed on dung. These beetles collect dung, make spherical dung balls, roll them away and bury them intact in shallow burrows for further eating. Click here or here for more information.
Manchester Museum, F2448
Flattened Giant Dung Beetle (Pachylomera femoralis), an African species that is widespread in woodland and savannah regions south of the equator.
Click here for more information.
Manchester Museum, F2448
Dung Beetle (Scarabaeus aegyptiorum).
Manchester Museum, F2448
Dung Beetle (Scarabaeus cancer), a rare beetle from Angola.
Manchester Museum, F2448
Black basalt heart scarab, inscribed for a scribe named Na-her-hu. Such scarab images were placed on the mummy of the deceased to provide magical protection for the heart.
Date: c. 1320-1069 BC
The text on the underside says:
“O my heart, which I had from my mother, the centre of my being. Do not stand against me as a witness, do not oppose me in the judgement hall, in the presence of the keeper of the balance. You are my ka (spirit) in my body, the creator [who makes my limbs prosper]”.’
The full story of this object can be seen here.
Manchester Museum, 5998
Faience openwork plaque, with a winged scarab holding a rosette in its front and back legs.
Date: around 700 BC.
Manchester Museum, 8568
Winged faience scarab made in three pieces, and four faience amulets of the sons of Horus. These decorations were attached to the outer wrappings of a mummy.
Date: 800-300 BC
Manchester Museum, 4748
Faience amulet of a winged scarab, made in three pieces. These decorations were attached to the outer wrappings of a mummy.
Date: 800-300 BC
Manchester Museum, 11013
Winged scarab made of glazed steatite. Glazed surface worn away. These decorations were attached to the outer wrappings of a mummy.
Date: 800-300 BC
Manchester Museum, 3929
Stone heart scarab with seven incised lines on the bottom, as if for an inscription. Such scarab images were placed on the mummy of the deceased to provide magical protection for the heart.
Date: 800-300 BC
Manchester Museum, 6388
A pair of Sacred Scarabs (Scarabeus sacer) rolling a dung ball.
Artist: E.J. Detmold