For by far the most important amulet in ancient Egypt was the scarab, symbolically as sacred to Egyptians as the cross to Christians.

In one way, scarabs were a cheap and common form of "charm" that everyone could easily afford and wear with a lanyard on their person. Most of the scarabs were made for life. The small magical item was believed to be imbued with particular protective powers that prevented evil and provided good things for the owner for this life and also for the next (especially when sewn into mummy wraps). This was especially true when used as a heart scarab. or a winged scarab to provide a safe journey to the Beyond the gods.

Jewelry in the form of pendants, bracelets, and necklaces featured scarabs of various sizes and were believed to possess amulet properties. In the Middle Kingdom, scarabs were worn on the finger mounted as a ring or threaded with a finger cord. Numerous clay prints, with the names of real and non-real names, animal figures, and decorative motifs found in letters, documents, and containers attest that scarabs have been used primarily as stamps.

Although scarabs were known from the earliest periods, it is in the 12th dynasty that their use as seals became common. The vast majority of the thousands of scarab seals were quite small, generally measuring about three-fourths of an inch long by one-half inch wide and about one-fourth inch high. The name of a particular person, king or official title was inscribed on its flat bases to ensure that powers of protection would be granted to the owner and to the property of the owner. Interestingly, some scarabs with real names were used after the king passed away, in the holy sense, similar to the holy medals of Christian saints. In all likelihood, regardless of rank, scarabs represent sacred emblems of Egyptian religious beliefs.

But you don't have to search far to find ancient Egyptian treasures - we have scarab amulets here, so if you want a lucky scarab, come see us.

The Scarab