What Does the Scarab Beetle Mean?

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The history and mythology of the scarab beetle across cultures

Reviewed by Jason Zuk

Last Updated: December 1, 2024 Fact Checked

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Egyptian Scarab Beetle Meanings

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Scarab Beetle Meanings in Other Cultures

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Scarab Amulet Types

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FAQs

Scarab beetles are an important symbol in ancient Egyptian mythology and culture. They were placed inside Egyptian tombs for the deceased's journey to the afterlife, as well as on protective amulets. Read on to find out everything you want to know about this mysterious spiritual symbol including what they mean in various cultures and facts about scarab beetles themselves.

Scarab Beetle Meaning

Scarab beetles are Egyptian symbols of rebirth, renewal, and transformation. Ancient Egyptians used scarab amulets for protection against evil and for good luck, and were also a part of funerary rites in connection with the journey to the afterlife.

Section 1 of 4:

Scarab Beetle Meanings in Ancient Egypt

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The scarab beetle is associated with renewal and the Egyptian sun god Khepri. Khepri is the god of the early morning sun. It was believed that Khepri rolled the sun disk across the sky every morning, just as the scarab rolls dung across the ground. The morning sun is thought to “die” as it descends each evening until it’s reborn again the next day.^{[1]
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Research source} Scarabs came to be symbols of renewal, safety, and restoration.^{[2]
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- The scarab beetle’s spiritual meaning is also a central part of Egyptian mythology, religious rites, and daily life.
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Scarab beetles represent rebirth and regeneration. Scarab beetles hatch their eggs in the same ball of dung they roll across the ground. New beetles seem to appear out of nowhere, which is why Egyptians believe that the scarab emerged spontaneously. It stands for the resurrection of both the self and the soul.^{[3]
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Scarab beetles symbolize new beginnings. Scarabs can adapt, persist, and transform during the process of hatching eggs, crawling out of a dung pile, and continuing their work rolling balls of dung across the ground. This translates into the scarab beetle as a representation of transformation and new beginnings.
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Scarabs are affiliated with the sun god Ra. The scarab beetle is most directly linked to Khepri, but is also a part of the mythology around the sun god Ra, the falcon-headed god of the daytime and midday. Its journey then ends with Atum, the god of the setting sun. The scarab’s journey involves all 3 sun gods who rule over each day from sunrise to sunset.
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Scarab amulets are symbols of protection. In ancient Egypt, amulets helped impart powers upon the wearer, but in the scarab beetle’s case, these amulets also ward off evil. Beyond that, scarab amulets and accessories were thought to bring good luck to whoever wore or kept them close.^{[4]
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Scarabs help guide the deceased in the afterlife. Scarab amulets were used as Egyptian funerary symbols when they were placed in between a mummy’s bandages before being entombed. Scarab amulets were among a variety of sacred objects that accompanied the deceased after death to usher them along their journey to the afterlife.^{[5]
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Egyptian pharaohs kept scarab amulets to bring wealth. The scarab beetle is itself a symbol of prosperity, abundance, and good fortune. Their ingenuity and hard work in rolling a ball of dung across the sand earned them the respect of pharaohs, who also wore scarab amulets as good luck charms.^{[6]
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Section 2 of 4:

Cultural Meanings of Scarabs Beyond Egypt

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^{[7]
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Research source} They were a symbol linked to the Aries, the god of war and one of the 12 Olympians.^{[8]
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Scarab beetles symbolize healing in ancient Rome. Ancient Romans wore scarab amulets and used them as protective talismans that had healing properties. Roman soldiers wore scarab rings, in particular, during battle for additional protection. The Roman province of Sardinia mass-produced scarab amulets which were then shipped to Rome for use.^{[9]
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The scarab beetle represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth in ancient China. This relates to the scarab’s ability to roll a ball of dung across the ground and then lay its eggs inside. This process translates to the idea of transformation and spiritual awakening.^{[10]
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In Native American cultures, scarabs represent change and transformation. For the Hopi tribe, in particular, scarab beetles symbolize endurance due to their ability to survive in the unforgiving desert environment around them.^{[11]
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In Mayan cultures, scarab beetles represent the underworld. Scarabs are linked to Kinich Ahau, the Mayan sun god. They went side by side with ideas of death and the underworld. As a guardian spirit, scarab beetles protect against evil forces and guide travelers on their journey to the afterlife. Mayans also placed scarab amulets with the deceased in their tombs.^{[12]
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Scarab beetles were used for healing in medieval Europe. In medieval folk medicine practices across Europe, practitioners would extract oil from the scarab larvae and use it to treat scratches, other skin wounds, rheumatism, and anemia.^{[13]
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Scarabs are symbols of protection in the occult. Scarab beetles show up as an important part of mythical rites and practices. They appear carved into amulets, along with symbols and spells meant to invoke specific energies. Scarab amulets were also used for general protection by many occult groups.^{[14]
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In Western esoteric practices, scarabs are related to transformation. They assisted practitioners in their quest to overcome obstacles and release themselves from stagnation through the use of scarab amulets in magical practices, making them a symbol of personal growth.^{[15]
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Scarabs are symbols of enlightenment in alchemy. For alchemists, scarabs are associated with the specific transformation of base substances into gold. Their use relates to finding spiritual enlightenment and perfection through the alchemical process.^{[16]
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Section 3 of 4:

Types of Egyptian Scarab Beetle Amulets

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Heart Scarabs During the Egyptian Middle Kingdom period, a heart scarab amulet was put inside an embalmed mummy in place of the actual heart. Its purpose is to protect the heart of the deceased when being judged in the afterlife.^{[17]
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Funerary Scarabs These scarab amulets appear with a more rounded natural shape than the kind of amulets worn in life. They were placed inside a sarcophagus with mummies and sometimes called “seal amulets,” when used to secure the sarcophagus itself.^{[18]
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- Transformational scarab images also appear in Egyptian funerary texts, called transformational texts. Here, they’re identified with Osiris, the god of the dead, who passed through stages in the afterlife much like the scarab beetle moves the dung ball through the cycle of the day.^{[19]
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Amuletic Scarabs Ancient Egyptians wore amuletic scarabs in life as jewelry or carried the scarab amulets with them for protection. Some of these scarab beetle amulets have a loop so they can be worn around the neck, but most of them appear with a flat underside to lay against the body more easily.
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Royal Commemorative Scarabs These mounted scarab amulets show off the authority and power of the ruling king or queen. They appeared when Egyptians observed a special day for members of royalty, like an inauguration or royal wedding. Commemorative scarab amulets were produced during the reign of Amenhotep III.^{[20]
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Administrative Scarabs Less regal than commemorative scarabs, these amulets act as a seal for the central administration, particularly in the Egyptian late Middle Kingdom.^{[21]
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Name Scarabs Some scarab amulets were designated name scarabs for particular people. They include hieroglyphs and geometric patterns to describe the name, and sometimes the title, of their owner.^{[22]
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Sacred Scarabs Outside of funerary practices, the Egyptian scarab amulet was also placed inside tombs and temples as a sacred offering to the gods.

Section 4 of 4:

Scarab Beetle Meaning FAQs

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According to ancient Egyptian folklore, scarab beetles are a sign of good luck. They were worn as amulets by the living and placed inside sarcophagi with the deceased to bring luck in the afterlife. Scarabs were sacred creatures to the Egyptians and associated with rebirth and resurrection, so wearing a scarab amulet brought protection and good luck.^{[23]
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What does the scarab mean in the Bible? Beetles represent resilience and transformation in the Bible. A scarab beetle shedding its skin is used as a metaphor for spiritual growth and renewal through faith in God. They’re mentioned in the biblical Book of Exodus as part of the Egyptian plague and represent hope for eternal life and illustrate God’s protective power.^{[24]
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Who is the scarab beetle god? The ancient Egyptian god Khepri is considered the scarab beetle god. He is depicted with a man’s body and a scarab head. Khepri is one of 3 gods of the sun, along with Ra and Atum. Like the scarab beetle rolls the dung ball over the ground, Khepri rolls the early morning sun across the sky.^{[25]
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What is the scientific name of the scarab beetle? The scientific name for scarab beetles is Scarabaeidae, which represents the family of scarabs. They exist in the Arthropoda phylum of insects, along with the Coleoptera order. Over 30,000 species of scarab beetles exist on almost every continent. They also come in a variety of colors from black, silver, and green to blue and gold.^{[26]
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What was the Scarab of Hatshepsut? The scarab of Hatshepsut is among hundreds of ancient artifacts found in the tomb of the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut. The scarab amulet bases include different details about Hatshepsut, from her many titles to extended forms of her personal name. These scarabs are a combination of royal commemorative scarabs, name scarabs, and funerary scarabs used by the queen during life and in death.^{[27]
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Getting a scarab tattoo makes a powerful statement focused on the ancient Egyptian themes of protection and healing. Scarab beetles represent the story of Khepri, the Egyptian sun god of the early morning, and represent life, death, and rebirth.^{[28]
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