Scarab (artifact)

Beetles ( ladybirds ) are images of the Holy pill Turner ( Scarabaeus sacer ) notably as small amulets. The name of the scarab in Egyptian is Cheper.

The liberation and rapid multiplication of this beetle in the mud of the Nile after the resignation of the Nile led to the opinion that he arises without procreation, which is why he was a symbol of creative power. In his nearly round shape, in the shiny, shimmering gold color of the elytra were found similarity with shape and brightness of the sun, the next visible formation cause, and was consecrated him a divine worship (for example, as the incarnation of the deity Khepri ). The behavior of the scarab to roll dung balls in front of him, put a reference to Re and his voyage on the solar barque forth across the sky.

• 2.1 Amulets
• 2.2 Seal
• 2.3 " Nachrichtenskarabäen "
• 2.4 heart scarabs
• 2.5 size
• 2.6 typology

Importance to the ancient Egyptians

Divine animal

The scarab has a strong solar aspect: He has been associated with Re and the ride in the solar bark in conjunction with and Cheper, Re in its appearance as the morning sun, identified.

Lucky charm

The scarab beetle as an amulet broke the mold off and took over from him the meaning of " resurrection and life."

Modern Declaration

The importance of good luck and protection symbol results from the previous assumption that scarabs allegedly feel the Nilhochwasser early. The animals wandered away from the water, appeared in homes and so the Egyptians announced the awaited Nilhochwasser to.

Forms of representation

Such scarabs were in Egypt, usually cut from stones, especially steatite. There they are also in Fayence, garnet, amethyst, jasper, alabaster, lapis lazuli, basalt, granite, glass, frit, silver and gold.

Amulets

They are usually longitudinally pierced, so you could wear it on a string or in a ring. The first beetles appear at the beginning of the Middle Kingdom and seem to have had amulet or seal character. Their underside is usually decorated by the Middle Kingdom with patterns, hieroglyphs or symbolic representations.

Seal

Scarabs were also used as seals, for example, from wine jugs etc. The Siegelskarabäen differ essentially only by the lettering on the bottom. At the end of the 12th dynasty and the 13th dynasty they are also labeled with names of rulers and officials. The official seal disappear at the beginning of the New Kingdom. At about this time, the tradition of scarabs used as seals in the Middle East, where some Egyptian motifs were imitated; were formed also local traditions with other images. Domestic seal in Egypt, entitled nb.t pr ( mistress of the house ) passed away a long time next to it.

" Nachrichtenskarabäen "

Amenhotep III. began with the publication of five Skarabäenreihen who carried the news of certain events to the remote provinces and friendly countries. The first of these, the so-called Hochzeitsskarabäus, is certainly the most famous: the nature of the formulation of his parents ( only name without titles ) gave rise to speculation whether his wife Tiye was of bourgeois origin.

Heart scarabs

This is much larger formats without hole, where often the Book of the Dead spell 30 (a or b ) is listed ( the weighing of the heart by Thoth ). He was used exclusively in the grave context. He was placed on the mummies next to the heart, but did not replace it. The oldest ones date back to the 13th Dynasty (about 1750 BC ) ( see, eg, Nebanch ). In the New Kingdom and later, they are then in a standard upscale amenities grave.

Size

The Amulettskarabäen are not longer than 1-1 ½ cm generally. The larger, up to 5 or 6 inches in length, wear religious inscriptions and were wrapped in bandages. The Nachrichtenskarabäen reach about the same size. Due to the increasing mixing of the Egyptian, Gnostic and Christian teaching is found on these gems partly Christian inscriptions.

Typology

The appearance of the top of the scarabs was defeated in the course of time such a development is that a suitably experienced Egyptologist is able to date a scarab at a glance. So they were gemmenartig in the early days, with only implied division of Zephalothorax and abdomen. This division is refined over time, and the top was plastic; from the 18th dynasty or under Akhenaten ( Amarna ) and under the following Ramessides the guy had the natural model as far approximated that are, at the edge of the legs and fine hair can be seen in addition to the indicated wings on them. Scarabs of the late lose time again their naturalistic appeal and are increasingly designed schematic.

Meaning in written language

In the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt, the scarab is the ideogram for the word xpr whose main meanings are or are incurred. The young beetles were observed hatching from the earth. Are feeding the young beetles of the manure, they eat their way into the earth, and when they hatch beetles then from the earth. Why was the scarab in ancient Egypt for fertilization and rebirth.

Acquisition by other cultures

Scarabs were also found in Phoenician and Punic tombs in Sardinia and Etruria.