The beetle among the ancient Egyptians was one of the sacred animals. For them, everything around them had a role in the world of the living. Their attitudes and behaviours revealed the "mechanics" of the universe.
The dung beetle, pushing, with its hind legs a ball of excrement in which it laid its ...
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The beetle among the ancient Egyptians was one of the sacred animals. For them, everything around them had a role in the world of the living. Their attitudes and behaviours revealed the "mechanics" of the universe.
The dung beetle, pushing, with its hind legs a ball of excrement in which it laid its eggs, especially in the early hours of the day, was therefore assimilated to the sun god Rising again from the darkness.
He was thus venerated under the name of Kepry, symbol of the eternal rebirth. As a result, every Egyptian wore the beetle in an amulet. They have been found in wood, ivory, precious stone, terracotta enamelled with Egyptian blue, and gold. Pharaoh Amenhetep III had several hundred thousand of them distributed throughout Egypt for the jubilee of his reign. At the time of embalming, the priests inserted a beetle between the strips to ensure the king's rebirth.
Original work on display at the Cairo Museum, Egypt.
Period around 1300 BC, New Kingdom
French artisanal production in engobed and enamelled terracotta.
Hand decorated
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