Scarab - Scarab (English spelling)

A group of insects belonging to the beetle family, also known as scarab beetles or dung beetles. They roll animal dung into balls and use them for food and for laying eggs. In ancient Egypt, the scarab beetle's ecology was considered symbolic, and the scarab-like god Khepri (Kheperi) was worshiped. The way the scarab carries the dung balls was likened to the sun being carried from east to west across the sky, and Khepri was identified with the sun god Atum. Khepri means "one who is born by himself." Scarabs are considered symbols of "rebirth," "resurrection," and "creation," and in ancient Egypt, their designs were used in sculptures, seals, amulets, and accessories. The famous sculptures are the statues at the Karnak Temple and the colossus in the British Museum. Amulets are made of lapis lazuli, turquoise, obsidian, faience, etc., and the owner's name or a god's image is carved on the back. They are worn or wrapped in the bandages of mummies. The somewhat large "heart scarab," with the "Book of the Dead" inscribed on the back, was placed on top of the mummy's chest.

[Yoshimura Sakuji]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

甲虫類に属する昆虫の一群で、タマオシコガネ、フンコロガシなどとよばれる。獣糞(じゅうふん)を球状にして転がし、餌(え)にしたり、産卵に用いる。古代エジプトでは、その生態に象徴的意義をみ、スカラベの姿神ケプリ（ケペリ）が崇拝された。糞球を運ぶようすを、太陽が天空を東から西に運ばれる姿になぞらえ、ケプリ神は太陽神アトゥムと同一視された。ケプリとは「自ら生まれた者」の意。スカラベは「再生」「復活」「創造」のシンボルとされ、古代エジプトではその意匠は彫刻、印章、護符、装身具などに用いられた。彫刻ではカルナック神殿の像、大英博物館蔵の巨像が有名。護符にはラピスラズリ、トルコ石、黒曜石、ファイアンスなどが用いられ、裏面に所有者名や神像などを彫り、身につけたり、ミイラの包帯に巻き込んだ。やや大形で、裏に「死者の書」を記した「心臓スカラベ」は、ミイラの胸の上に置かれた。

［吉村作治］

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