This is definitely the largest scarab ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ that I have ever seen!ย I was shocked when I saw just how big it was in the British Museum! I have honestly never seen anything like it in any of the other museums I have visited!

This scarab ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ represented Khepri ๐ฃ๐๐ญ. Khepri ๐ฃ๐๐ญ the god ๐น that was associated with the โrising of the sun ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญโ (these hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช translate to โsun at dawnโ) and thus he is associated with life ๐น๐๐ and rebirth. Scarabs ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ช were extremely popular as amulets ๐๐ช๐ ๐ช, and were considered to have the strongest ๐๐๐๐ญ protection ๐ ๐๐ก๐ powers.
The โscarab beetle ๐ฃโ hieroglyph ๐น๐ symbol is a determinative, ideogram and phonogram symbol! It is associated with the sound แธซpr (like โKheperโ) is also used to write the words “evolve,โ โmanifestation,โ and “become.”
From a geologic perspective, this scarab ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ is made of the rock ๐๐๐๐ diorite. Diorite is an intrusive igneous rock (meaning it forms underground from the solidification of magma). Diorite is an extremely durable rock ๐๐๐๐ (one of the strongest found on Earth ๐พ๐พ), and is comparable to granite ๐๐๐๐๐ณ๐ฟ in terms of strength and method of formation.
However, diorite usually doesn’t contain a lot quartz ๐ ๐๐๐, a very strong ๐๐๐๐ญ mineral which is abundant in granite ๐๐๐๐๐ณ๐ฟ, hence the difference between the two ๐ป rocks ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ. One of the reasons why this scarab ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ is so well preserved, is probably due to the strength of the diorite! Diorite, like granite ๐๐๐๐๐ณ๐ฟ, was usually mined by the Egyptians in Aswan ๐ด๐น๐๐๐ฒ๐๐
As you all know, ancient Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐ is one of my biggest passions, however I actually have degrees in Earth and Environmental science! I love combining my passions for Egyptian history and geology together ๐๐!