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The dung beetle rolls its egg-laden pellet along the ground in delineation of the sun coursing through the heavens while being pushed along by a giant scarab. I wonder ... did the Egyptians think the sun was nothing more than a large luminous ball of excrement? And then the pressing question becomes ... from whence did they think the sun emerged? These question need to be answered by greater minds than mine.
In ancient Egypt the falcon as well as the scarab was a symbolic representation of the sun god. Thusly ... both creatures were often depicted in composite form to portray the burning orb.
Look closely at the scarab centered on the pendant. It has the forelegs of a beetle and the hind legs of a falcon. The entire intention of the winged scarab amulet is only secondarily for decorative purposes and primarily for protection. Signs and symbols ... from the eye of Horus on top to the three gods above it and the two cobras flanking it ... all these had the purpose of serving the wearer by shielding him from evil.
An image of a bull or a lion attracted courage. The ankh was the symbol of life itself. The color blue was there for protection. Each and every particle of the 5.5 inch by 5.5 inch talisman (gleaned from the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings) you are about to view served a particular need and had a particular meaning.
The cloisonné techniques used in them thar days and visible under the eye of Horus ain't nothing to sneeze at. Their jewelers were no slouches. Every element here is outlined with thin gold strips.
I could go on ... but this is a Tidbits and not a thesis ... so I leave you to view and lean back and bask in the glory of olden days long gone by.
For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at
And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all next week. Benjamin Mark
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