SCARABAEUS, n. The sacred beetle of the ancient Egyptians, allied to our familiar "tumble-bug." It was supposed to symbolize immortality, the fact that God knew why giving it its peculiar sanctity. Its habit of incubating its eggs in a ball of ordure may also have commended it to the favor of the priesthood, and may some day assure it an equal reverence among ourselves. True, the American beetle is an inferior beetle, but the American priest is an inferior priest.
2010 Update: A symbol of the sun, found in a mound of dung. The more plausible easter egg.
9 comments:
First! I love these beetles. They push the shit around; I can relate to that.
SCARABAEUS: just another guy tryin' to make his pile.
Charles Dickens may have had one of these Scarabaeus imbedded into his brain. This according to Dan Simmons in his historical novel, Drood which portrayed the last few years of Dickens' life.
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The only beetle I feel comfortable around is the Wood Bug. I hadn't see one in years until I saw one recently in the California Sierras...
I really like your comparison ;)
QB, I love that the Egyptians worshipped them for that. You can see how the pyramids got built, can't you?
You bet, Joven.
TLP, it's a rare man who gathers as he builds. Most of us strew.
Now that I sure didn't know, Jim.
A-bell, some evidence of an omniscient God, creation without consultants.
Terry, that's a nice place to find a bug, a bear a bird or a view.
Thanks, Nicole.
"The more plausible easter egg"...lol
The 2010 update is entirely plausible. The Devil's Dictionary defines Scarabee, n. same as the scarabaeus.
In Egyptian mythology, the god of the rising sun (Khepri) was represented by Scarabaeus sacer - sacred scarab -symbolizing transformation, renewal, and resurrection.
I agree, Anonymous.
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