34 SCARAB^ID^ — DUNG-BEETLES. 



ichneumon at Heracleopolis, was the worship of the beetle 

 confined ; but traces of it are found throughout the whole 

 of Egypt. It is probable, however, it received the greatest 

 honors at Memphis and Heliopolis, of which cities Pthah 

 and the Sun were the chief Deities.^ The worship is also 

 of great antiquity, for in many of the above-mentioned 

 characters, the beetle occurs upon the royal sepulchers of 

 Biban-el-Moluc, which are said to be more ancient than the 

 Pyramids. 2 Scaraba3i are, in fact, to be retraced in all their 

 moiiuments and sculptures, and under divers positions, and 

 often depicted of gigantic dimensions. Mr. Hamilton tells 

 us that in the most conspicuous part of the magnificent 

 temple which marks the site of the ancient Ombite nome, 

 priests are represented paying divine honors to this beetle, 

 placed upon an altar ; and, that it might have a character 

 of more mysterious sanctity, it was generally figured with 

 two mitered heads — that of the common hawk, and that of 

 the ram with the horn of Ammon.^ It may be remarked 

 here, that the Scarabaeus, when represented with the head 

 of a hawk, or of a ram, is meant to be an emblem of the 

 sun ; and as such emblem it is most commonly found. It 

 often occurs in a boat with extended wings, holding the 

 globe of the sun in its claws, or elevated in the firmament 

 as a type of that luminary in the meridian. Figures too 

 of other Deities are often seen praying to it when in this 

 character.* 



In the cabinet of Montfaucon, there is a Scarabseus in 

 the middle of a large stone, with outspread feet ; and two 

 men, or women, who are perhaps priests, or priestesses, 

 stand before it with clasped hands as if in adoration.^ This 

 gentleman also has remarked that on the Isiac table, there 

 is the figure of a man in a sitting posture, who holds his 

 hands toward a beetle which has the head of a man with 

 a crescent upon it.® On this table there is another Scarab 

 with the head of Isis.^ Besides these Scarabaei with the 

 heads of hawks, rams, men, and the goddess Isis, Mr. 



1 Wilkin. Anct. Egypt., ii. (2d S.) 257. 



2 De Pauw, ii. 104. 



3 Pettig. Hist, of Mum., p. 220. 



* Wilkin. Anct. Egypt., ii. (2d S.) 256. 



6 Montf. Antiq., ii. (Pt. II ) 322. 

 ^ Ibid., ii. (Pt. II.) 339. 



7 Wilkin. Anct. Egypt., ii. (2d S.) 259, note. 



