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. These scarab beetle amulets were made in various forms, such as heart scarabs, commemorative scarabs, and scarab amulets, thus catering to different functions. Many scarabs have been found inside the wrapping of mummies to ensure a safe journey into the afterlife, but they were also used by the living for protection or in order to have their wishes granted. While hieroglyphs on a scarab amulet could be used to convey a message or wish, signs were also chosen to embellish these amulets for their positive or protective meaning.
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.
