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. It was not uncommon for hieroglyphs found on scarab amulets to be apotropaic, instead of creating phrases or sentences, their purpose was instead to invoke good omens and provide protection for the wearer, depending on the glyphs incised.
The Uraeus, a highly stylised, upright, rearing form of the Egyptian cobra, was used as a symbol of royalty, deity, and divine authority in Ancient Egypt. It was also a symbol of the Lower Egyptian goddess Wadjet. When placed on the brow, the uraeus was thought to protect the wearer by spitting fire at their enemies. Worn as a head ornament as part of their crown by the pharaohs, adorning statues, used as a hieroglyphic, or as jewellery, the uraeus also appeared as amulets, such as this piece here. Cobras in general were associated with the Eye of Ra and the shedding of snake skin was also considered a symbol of regeneration. As such, the uraeus, though usually reserved for royalty, could be placed on the deceased as amulets on their forehead, torso, or at their feet, ensuring their protection and resurrection in the afterlife.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets, please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings
