CHAP. XIV. SCARAB^US. 257 



conjecture is not supported by fact, nor indeed by 

 probability, in consequence of their great dissimi- 

 larity in size, weight, and many particulars re- 

 quired for establishing the value of a coin. They 

 were principally used for rings, necklaces, and other 

 ornamental trinkets, as well as for funereal purposes. 

 Some of a larger size frequently had a prayer, or 

 legend connected with the dead, engraved upon 

 them ; and a winged Scarabaeus was generally 

 placed on those bodies which were embalmed ac- 

 cording to the most expensive process.* 



It is probably to their being worn as rings that 

 Plutarch alludes, in speaking of *' the beetle en- 

 graved upon the signets of the soldiers." The cus- 

 tom is mentioned by^lian t ; and some have been 

 found perfect, set in gold with the ring attached. 



The Scarabseus may then be considered, 1. an 

 emblem of the Sun t ; 2. of Pthah, the creative 

 power, and of Pthah Tore ; 3. of Pthah-Sokari- 

 Osiris ; 4. of the World ; 5. connected with as- 

 tronomical subjects § ; and 6. with funereal rites. 



The Scarabajus was not only venerated when 

 alive, but embalmed after death ; and some have 

 been found in that state at Thebes. But the cities 

 where it received the greatest honours were pro- 

 bably Memphis and Heliopolis, of which Pthah and 

 the Sun were the chief Deities. 



Considerable ingenuity has been exercised in 

 order to discover the real sacred beetle of Egypt, 



* Vide infra, chap. 16. -|- ^lian, x. 13. 



J A winged Scarabaeus bearing the disk of Re was also put for the 

 winged globe of Hor-Hat ; but this was only in lieu of the Sun. 

 § It occurs in some zodiacs in the place of Cancer. 

 VOL. II. — Second Series. S 



