A scarab was a carving of a dung beetle, made in precious or semi-precious stone. It was a lucky charm and features in many forms of jewellery from Ancient Egypt, as well as being wrapped within the linen strips during the process of mummification.

Dung beetles lay their eggs and wrap them in balls of animal dung, from which the beetles then hatch out. The ancient Egyptians thought that the dung beetle was, therefore, magic with the power to come to life of their own accord.

Because dung beetles could be seen pushing and positioning these round dung balls, they were readily associated with Ra, the sun god, who was also round. Maybe a huge scarab beetle pushed the sun across the sky.