The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the desert mirrored the journey of the sun across the sky from day to night. As the beetle laid its eggs within the dung, it became a symbol of rebirth and regeneration.
Hunting scenes were a common motif of scarabs, with a range of animals depicted as prey, from horned deer, ferocious lions and rare ostriches. Due to the styling of the scarab, both on the obverse and reverse, we have suggested a Nubian origin.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.