Sacred Adornment Exhibition Interactive - Part 4

Sacred Adornment Exhibition Interactive

Part Four: Symbols

Here are some of the symbols that ancient Egyptians carved onto the underside of a scarab. Each symbol has a meaning.

Some symbols were the image of a god or goddess.

Below you will find each symbol, its name, the Egyptian word the hieroglyph stands for, and its meaning.

Name | Scarab

Egyptian Word | kheper

Meaning | To come into being, to exist

Black and white outline of stylized windpipe shaped symbol with a tall cross shape ending in an oval base.

Name | Windpipe

Egyptian Word | nefer

Meaning | Beautiful

Black and white outline of a simplified human heart showing one main chamber.

Name | Heart

Egyptian Word | ib

Meaning | Heart

Black and white image of the outline of a papyrus plant with a long stem and fan shaped top.

Name | Papyrus column

Egyptian Word | wadj

Meaning | Healthy, to flourish

Black and white image of a human eye with an eyebrow and a long decorative line with a spiral below.

Name | Eye of Horus

Egyptian Word | wedjat

Meaning | Whole, healthy

Black and white outline of a beaded collar showing the band and several stylized beads hanging from it.

Name | Collar of beads

Egyptian Word | nub

Meaning | Gold

Black and white symbol shaped like a cross with an oval shape in place of the top of the cross.

Name | Sandal strap

Egyptian Word | ankh

Meaning | Life

Black and white image of a scepter shape with a hooked handle on top of a long staff ending in a fork.

Name | Scepter

Egyptian Word | was

Meaning | Dominion, power

Black and white image of a pillar shape with four think bands at its top and ending in a flare at its base.

Name | Pillar

Egyptian Word | djed

Meaning | Stability

Black and white image of three concentric circles.

Name | Sun

Egyptian Word | Ra

Meaning | Sun

Black and white outline of a cobra rearing up with a coiled tail beneath it.

Name | Cobra

Egyptian Word | iaret

Meaning | Supreme power, royalty, divine power

Black and white image of an outline of a small figure with large ears, a beard and long hair and wearing a feathered headdress.

Name | Bes (god)

Dominion | Protector of house, home, family, children

Black and white outline of a creature with the head of a hippopotamus including large teeth and a tongue sticking out and the hands and feet of a feline.

Name | Taweret (goddess)

Dominion | Protector of house, home, family, mothers, children

The designs on a protective scarab amulet could include several symbols and images. The combination chosen might reflect the person’s hope for a specific type of protection.

Look at these examples.

Can you find any symbols that you recognize?

Check the symbols above to review their meaning.

Based on the combinations of symbols you see, what do you imagine each ancient Egyptian scarab owner was hoping for, hoping to protect, or protect against?

Four drawings of the carved undersides of oval shaped scarab amulets showing a variety of hieroglyphic symbols.

Part 4 Task:

Ancient Egyptians cared about and believed specific things that influenced their designs.

Today, we might still care about some similar things – our health, our family, being successful, having food and good fortune.

On your paper, write down or draw some things that you care about that you would want to protect and keep safe in your life.

Once you have completed the task, click below to move on to Part 5!

Part 5 - Designing Your Scarab

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse