A scarab is a species of dung beetle Scarabaeus sacer. This beetle was a sacred symbol to the ancient Egyptians, who carved images of it.
These images looked like a scarab beetle on the top, but were smooth on the bottom. This surface might be carved with writing commemorating an event, or with someone’s name to be used as a seal.
Symbolic Significance
The behavior of the scarab beetle had symbolic significance to the ancient Egyptians. The female would lay eggs in this ball and also from decaying dead matter.
The larvae would emerge from this later and this symbolized the idea of rebirth from death to the ancient Egyptians. Dung beetles roll a food ball (of dung) across the ground to store in an underground chamber.
This behavior as well as the idea of rebirth reminded the ancient Egyptians of the God Khepri, the God of the dawning sun.
