An Ancient Egyptian carnelian scarab. The obverse is finely decorated and features an incised head and clypeus. The prothorax and elytra are divided by single lines, with two incised Vs descending from the dissecting prothorax line to form the humeral callosities. The sides of the scarab are decorated with linear incisions and short hatched lines, known as feathering, representing the legs. The reverse is flat and unworked. The scarab has been perforated longitudinally for suspension. Earthly encrustations and minor signs of wear as consistent with age, such as chipping and scratches. There is a stable internal crack near the base. The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the desert mirrored the journey of the sun across the sky from day to night. As the beetle laid its eggs within the dung, it became a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. Scarab amulets were believed to have magical rejuvenating properties, used by both the living and the dead. Measurements: (circa) L 1.6cm x W 1.1cm x H 0.7cm Provenance: From an early 20th century collection, UK.