The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. 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. These scarab beetle amulets were made in various forms, such as heart scarabs, commemorative scarabs, and scarab amulets, thus catering to different functions. Scarab amulets were believed to have magical rejuvenating properties, used by both the living and the dead.
Steatite, also known as soapstone, was one of the oldest stones used in ancient Egyptian civilization, used in both Predynastic and Dynastic periods. In its natural state, steatite is a very soft stone, meaning that it can very easily be worked with even the most basic of tools to create very fine results. However, once fired, steatite would become very hard wearing and resistant to damage, whilst still retaining its carved detail, making it an ideal material for amulets, beads, seals, and smaller statues.
