Ancient Egyptian Art and Artifacts

The Scarab Beetle

Scarab BeetlesTo the Ancient Egyptian people, the scarab beetle represented

good luck, hope and restoration of life. It was used in many different ways and is seen in various art and artifacts from the

ancient world.

Scarab (or “dung”) beetleAncient Egyptians observed the scarab beetle as it rolled its dung into balls and deposited the balls in their burrows. The female beetle would lay their

eggs in the ball and, as the larvae hatched, they would emerge. To the ancient Egyptians, these beetle seemed to appear from nowhere.

This “self creation” inspired the Egyptians to see the scarab beetle as a symbol of regeneration. The beetle came to represent the Egyptian god,

Khepri.

Khepri-The Sun God

• Khepri is a form of the sun god, Ra.

• He is usually depicted as a human with a beetle on his head or as his head.

• He rolled the sun across the sky, much like a dung beetle rolls a ball of dung.

• His name comes from the Egyptian word, kheprer or "to become“.

Scarab beetle symbolism

Ancient Egyptians included images of the scarab beetle in much of their art and tombs.

The image held deep meaning:

• Regeneration

• Creation

• Transformation

• Renewal

Scarab Beetle in Egyptian Art

Scarabs were made into seals to stamp important documents.

Jewelry and Amulets: as symbols of good luck

Often made with precious gems and painted clay

Scarab Beetle in Egyptian Art

Scarabs came in many designs

Often winged like the god Khepri and holding a sun in the center.

Bright, vivid colors

Blue= the Nile River

Red= Ra/Khepri

Yellow= the desert and sun

Green= growth

Egyptian Scarab

Repousse

I can:

• Create a SYMMETRICAL design using PATTERN and REPETITION.

• Use symbols from different ancient Egyptian culture.

• Use visual texture to create a pattern.

• Create a relief sculpture using the repousse technique.