Sacred Space for the ancient Egyptian was not confined to the territory of the temple and sacred groves.For him, every detail of daily life, all of the surrounding nature can teach a lot of valuable lessons and brought in a halo of sanctity.With this outlook appeared character that is on par with the pyramids and Ankh we associate with Egypt - scarab.Egyptian mysticism gave his divinity and holiness, and the myths made popular and recognizable.
origins of the symbolism of the scarab
To understand why the scarab - a sacred symbol, we first need to say a few words about its nature.So scarab - beetle is black with a metallic tinge, which is powered by manure.But he does it so unusual that really able to impress.The fact that first collects the dung beetle and rolls of it geometrically perfect sphere.This ball is rolled into the hole, where he spent the next few days scarab.
photo just shows the process of transportation of such a sphere.Ball so often weighs more than the beetle itself.When the stock is eaten, a sacred scarab comes to the surface for the new batch of supplies.And that's not all.The same balls are used for breeding: nestled in the hole bead sacred scarab beetle reworks into a kind of pear in a narrow part of which lays larvae.Recently, developing, feeding the interior of the ball, but does not eat up its walls.When the time comes, as it happens in the spring, the ball comes out of the New Beetle.
Plus everything else, the sacred scarab rolls the sphere is always only from east to west, and nothing else.A flying insect is always in the middle of the day.
Scarab and its relation to the sun
Of course, the Egyptians, who have paid so much attention to solar deities, could not discern in all this a certain similarity.As the sun passes its daily path from east to west, and then disappear in the darkness, and reappears in the east, and the scope of the scarab rolls the ground, then to come back for a new ball.
Besides the sun, according to the ideas of the Egyptians - sacred god of carrying all life, and after death - resurrection.Similarly, the development of a new cycle and insect dung inside the sphere, and the birth correlated with the death and resurrection of the sun.
Hence the scarab connection with one of the ancient deities of the Egyptian pantheon - Khepera.By itself, this god personifies the morning sunrise.The theological understanding, he is one of the three persons of the sun god, along with Ra - the god of daylight, and Atum, who managed the affairs of the sun from dawn to dusk.
In hieroglyphic writing Khepera was portrayed as a man with a scarab head.His connection with this insect is deep and even reflected in the name, which literally means "Emerged from itself."This is clearly visible allusion to the scarab dung hatch from the scope in the spring.
Solar Theology and scarab
Khepera in the mythology of Egypt has a role in the creation of the world.Myth has it that all the visible universe was born when ascending Khepri said his name.This role of the creator god of the universe shares with the solar deity of the Egyptian pantheon.
tradition of Khepera often relate it to Atum.It was believed that Atum - the god of the night sun, symbolizing a secret knowledge of the divine, demonstrates its power through the morning the rising sun - Khepera.Atum-Khepri sometimes equated with Amun - the hidden spirit of the sun, is born of Ra - the visible sun and daylight.
All this mythological symbols load and took the scarab.Egypt and its mysteries have given the last properties associated deities.Thus, it was believed that Osiris is reborn in the form of a scarab and in this way leaves the nostrils own head, which was buried in Abydos.
There were also sacred poetic texts, which was called the scarab god that lives in the heart and is protected by an inner light.From this character serves as a link between the human individual soul and God, proclaimed their unity.
role of the sacred scarab in the life of the ancient Egyptians
Sacred Scarab, this important religious symbol, accompanied by Egyptians throughout life.With the same mascot and they were buried.Egyptian religion proclaimed the immortality of the soul, which after death of the body passed into another world, where he continued his journey.When a person's life in the form of a beetle amulet was intended to bring good luck, prosperity, long life, protect home, protection from harm and demons, to bring a rich harvest, and help win the favor of God and His protection.
Scarab and traditions of burial
After the death figure beetle as a symbol of the resurrection in the next world and the transformation of the soul accompanied the soul and tells her divine impulse to new life.When the dying aristocratic Egyptian, whose body was supposed to mummify, instead of heart mummy put the image of a scarab.The latter was intended to revive the dead beyond the threshold of death.The Egyptians believed that the center and the focus of the human mind, and hence the habitat of the higher part of the soul is in the heart.Therefore scarab located there was a seed of new life, the germ of the revival.This custom was not static and, as the peculiar traditions, in different epochs was modified.However, its semantic load has not changed over time.For example, sometimes instead of the figurine beetle was manufactured ceramic heart, a symbol of the scarab with the names of deities depicted on its surface.
scarab role in the fate of the soul after death
There is another role performed nested in the heart of the mummy scarab.The photo above depicts a scene of the posthumous trial of the human soul, as it is represented by the ancient Egyptians.Their myths describe this process by way of weighing in the balance of the heart of the deceased.To inherit a better part in the other world, the heart of the deceased must not be heavier than the feather of Maat the goddess - the goddess of wisdom and justice.That heart can have only pure, innocent man whose conscience is aggravated crimes and crimes of mortality.Otherwise, the soul goes to receive retribution.Scarab, so called as a witness of God in the soul and conscience and fair judge of the human heart.Perhaps it is also considered a symbol of hope in the divine mercy and hope for leniency for the dead.
scarab as a symbol of education
Among other things, the sacred scarab - it is also a symbol of learning and student.Beetle turns viscous mass of manure into a perfect ball, which then gives life and he himself and his offspring, transforms the disciple to cultivate good character and create a perfect man, whose virtue, knowledge and wisdom to further equip its life and provide living descendants.
Conclusion
Scarab is deeply rooted in the cultural space of ancient Egypt, has become an important and ubiquitous symbol.Images scarab found throughout Egypt in various versions.It is made of stone, clay, metal, ceramics, but especially prized product, carved from stone sunlight - heliotrope.Thus amulets ascribed special magic power and strength.
Ready figurines coated with glaze and painted colors.Scarab served as a cult object and an element of decoration on the utensils and ornaments.On scarabs were drawn and engraved characters, the names of gods and sacred symbols.Its importance was so great that so far, thousands of years later, after the extinction of the ancient Egyptian culture, the scarab is recognizable and popular symbol of Egypt.
