A dung beetle called “Aksak” was supposed to have made the first woman and man on earth from clay. “The scarab rolls its pellet,” quotes a Taoist text from ancient China, “and life is born in it as an effect nondispersed work spiritual concentration. Now, if even in manure, an embryo can develop and cast his ‘terrestrial’ skins, why should the dwelling of celestial hearts not be able to generate a body too, if we put our spirit on it?”
Scarab beetles can be found in South America and Egypt. Dung beetle fossils date back 40 million years. The Egyptians immortalized the scarab beetle as sacred. The Egyptians believed it represented Ra, the god who rolled the sun across the sky and buried it each night. The scarab beetle became so sacred that it was depicted on unique stones to wear as jewelry. Archaeologists have also uncovered some evidence that Indians tribes in South America also viewed the scarab beetle as a religious symbol.
Ancient amulets, which were used for the deceased and the living, were believed to endow the wearer with the characteristics depicted in their art. Scarab beetle amulets portrayed the beetle’s persistence in rolling a dung ball and reemerging from its hole in the ground. The insect became the symbol of spontaneous generation, new life, and resurrection. One scarab beetle amulet was found in the Ulu Burun shipwreck, confirming that one of the trade paths of this ancient vessel included ancient Egypt. The scarab beetle also appeared in Egyptian heiroglyphs.
The next time you see a beetle — not necessarily a scarab beetle, but any type of beetle — think about its movements, behavior, and characteristics. Observe it carefully. You might be surprised what you will find.