Turquoise Scarab Ornament

A turquoise-coloured ornament depicting an ancient Egyptian scarab on a temple wall.

The ornament is part of a range accompanying the British Museum exhibition Hieroglyphs: unlocking ancient Egypt.

This ornament is made of polyresin and is richly decorated on both sides in colours of turquoise, deep red and bright blue.

In ancient Egypt, the scarab dung beetle was associated with the rising sun and eternal existence. Ancient Egyptians witnessed scarab beetles pushing balls of dung up hills and believed the sun to be propelled around the earth in the same way; pushed by a giant beetle. Scarabs were seen as powerful amulets, as they symbolised regeneration.

A vibrant gift inspired by history and architecture.