Tag: khepri

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Trilobites – Fossil Friday!

Trilobites have been my favorite fossils for as long as I can remember and they are probably my favorite because they look like scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ! Everything always comes back to ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– for me! While trilobites and the dung beetle (the real animal that scarabs 𓆣𓆣𓆣 were inspired by) look similar to each other, they do not have many similarities besides that – they were never even on Earth at the same time! 

Trilobites
A plate of trilobites at the AMNH!

Trilobites first evolved during the Cambrian Period around 521 million years ago (mya) . They are classified as an arthropod which means that they have an exoskeleton, and that exoskeleton is what allowed them to fossilize so well. Trilobites lived at the bottom of seas and crawled around scavenging for food! There are over 20,000 different species of trilobites that have been discovered, and they were a very abundant species until they went extinct around 252 mya at the end of the Permian Period – right before the evolution of the dinosaurs. 

William the Hippo with the trilobites at the AMNH.

While trilobites have no religious significance in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, the scarab 𓆣 does! The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is the personification is the god π“ŠΉ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was considered to be the god π“ŠΉ of the morning/rising sun 𓇳𓏺, and was usually depicted as a scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, or as a human body with a scarab 𓆣 for a head 𓁢𓏺!

The god π“ŠΉ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 symbolizes the β€œlife cycle” – birth π“„Ÿ, death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and then rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This cycle was essential to Egyptian religious beliefs, as Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ spent their lives preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and entering the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

The trilobite display at the AMNH.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Scarab at the British Museum

This is definitely the largest scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 that I have ever seen!Β  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 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 represented Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓀭. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓀭 the god π“ŠΉ that was associated with the β€œrising of the sun π“…ƒπ“ˆŒπ“π“­π“€­β€ (these hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ translate to β€œsun at dawn”) and thus he is associated with life π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“ and rebirth. Scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ were extremely popular as amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, and were considered to have the strongest 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ powers. 

The β€œscarab beetle 𓆣” hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ symbol is a determinative, ideogram and phonogram symbol! It is associated with the sound αΈ«pr (like β€œKheper”) is also used to write the words “evolve,” β€œmanifestation,” and “become.”

From a geologic perspective, this scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is made of the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ diorite.  Diorite is an intrusive igneous rock (meaning it forms underground from the solidification of magma). Diorite is an extremely durable rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ (one of the strongest found on Earth 𓇾𓇾), and is comparable to granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ in terms of strength and method of formation.  

However, diorite usually doesn’t contain a lot quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™, a very strong 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 mineral which is abundant in granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ, hence the difference between the two 𓏻 rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦. One of the reasons why this scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is so well preserved, is probably due to the strength of the diorite!  Diorite, like granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ, was usually mined by the Egyptians in Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Œ•π“Š–

As you all know, ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– 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 π“ˆ–π“Š—! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Two Baboons

This is a sunken limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c.Β 400–200 B.C.E.). There’s a lot going on here in such a small space! Let’s take a look!Β 

Two 𓏻 baboons are offering Wedjat Eyes π“‚€π“‚€ to the god π“ŠΉ Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“›, who is depicted as the scarab π“π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣. Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“› represents the β€œnewborn sun” (sun at dawn). On the relief, Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“› is holding the star β€œπ“‡½,” which is the sign for the Duat π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰ (Underworld/Afterlife), and beneath him is a sun disc 𓇳𓏺 with sun rays π“†„𓅱𓇢 extending downward. 

The baboons in this relief are most likely associated with the god π“ŠΉ Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­, who was often depicted as a baboon. The reason why they seem to be associated with Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­ is because of the Wedjat Eyes π“‚€π“‚€ they are holding and also by the shen rings 𓍢𓍢 they are wearing on their heads. The shen rings π“Άπ“Ά are thought to represent the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή, and since Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­ is god π“ŠΉ of the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή, he is commonly associated with this symbol!

The wedjat π“‚€ or the “Eye of Horus” is representative of the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏀 that Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ lost when battling Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. Thoth π“…€π“€­ restored Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ eye, however, the single Eye of Horus became a symbol of rebirth or healing π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€π“œ.

The Shen ring 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, and is also a symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scarab Amulets

The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is the personification is the god π“ŠΉ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛. The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were said to be the most powerful of amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ because the the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that the dung beetle (which the scarab was fashioned after) was capable of eternal regeneration. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was considered to be the god π“ŠΉ of the morning sun 𓇳𓏺, and was usually depicted as a scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, or as a human body with a scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 for a head 𓁢𓏺! Due to his ties with the sun 𓇳𓏺, Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was considered to be an aspect of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god π“ŠΉ Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛!

The god π“ŠΉ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 symbolizes a β€œlife cycle” – birth, death, and then rebirth in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This cycle was essential to Egyptian religious beliefs, as Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ spent their lives preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and entering the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife).

One of the best things about the MET are these little galleries that are offshoots of the main galleries – there are some real treasures (such as this scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 display) hidden away here! Honestly I love these little galleries more than the main areas – it’s almost like having a private museum!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Winged Scarab

The Winged Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is a large faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† that consists of three 𓏼 separate pieces; the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 itself and the two 𓏻 wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ that go on either side. These amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were placed usually on the chest of a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, and sometimes were even sewn into the beaded shrouds that would cover the wrapped mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 in the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. There are even holes in the amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ to allow for them to be attached securely! Most of the time, the pieces were integrated right into the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 bandages just like the other funerary amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ. I love this type of amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† so much!

The wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ are not those fo a beetle, but are actually the wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ of a bird! The wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ allowed the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 to join the rising and setting of the sun 𓇳𓏺 each day – which to the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ represented the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The cycle was central to the ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ religion! As a god π“ŠΉ who was constantly reborn, Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was associated with resurrection!

Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 is the god π“ŠΉ that is associated with scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and he is the god π“ŠΉ of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺 in the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭. The name β€œ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛” is pronounced pretty much the same as β€œscarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣” even though they are spelled differently!

In this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are also the four Sons of Horus amulets, which I have posted about previously! The four Sons of Horus were usually placed below the winged scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, just like in this display!

The Winged Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 also showed up in the Marvel show Moon Knight a lot! What did you think of Layla’s outfit in the last episode?!?! I loved it! If I was a superhero I would want that to be my costume!!!