1. Ancient Egyptian Art and
Artifacts
The Scarab Beetle

2. Scarab Beetles
To 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.

3. Scarab (or “dung”) beetle
Ancient 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.

4. KhepriThe 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“.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

10. 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.