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 dessert 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.
Rock crystal is a colourless, transparent form of quartz and is possibly known in ancient Egypt as “mnw -ḥḏ” (menew hedj) meaning “bright stone”. It is mainly quarried in the Western Desert between the Fayum and Bahariya Oasis and in Sinai. Gemstones such as rock crystals were used primarily in jewellery, amulets and decorative items and believed to carry religious significance and healing properties.
