EGYPTIAN FASHION AND THE SCARAB RING

This December I received a fantastic ceramic scarab ring for Christmas. 

         What is a scarab ring you might ask?  Well until a couple years ago I did not know either.  But now that I know I am obsessed. 

         Popular since ancient Egypt, scarab jewelry is jewelry set with either stones carved to look like the scarabaied beetle or in the Victorian era pieces, often set with actual beetle carpasces or exoskeletons. 

         I have always been a person who is inexplicably drawn to things, whether it is art, jewelry, clothing or people.  And that was how I felt about scarab jewelry.  From the first moment I espied an 1890's Victorian, scarab brooch I was in love. 

         But now that I have a piece of my own, I decided to do a little more research and find out exactly what else has fascinated people about the scarab from Ancient Egypt to the present.

         In ancient Egypt the scarabaied beetle was considered a divine symbol of rebirth for it represented the ancient deity, "Kheprie" who each day rolled the sun, "Ra", across the sky transforming bodies and soles.  And thus the scarab became the earthly symbol of the heavenly cycle.

         And so ancient Egyptians wore scarab charms, amulets and beads on necklaces and rings for good luck, protection, bravery and fertility.

         A dynamic symbol or charm the scarab beetle was also considered the protector of the written word.  They would use the smooth stomach of the carved scarab as a tablet on which to engrave.  For instance, Amehotep the III was famous for using scarabs commemoratively.  Using scarabs he memorialized the great lion hunts and the story of how he built a lake for his wife Queen Tiye.

         And the most important scarab of all, to the ancient Egyptians, was the "heart scarab" which was buried with the dead to ensure their rebirth in the afterlife.

         Of course, the popularity of the scarab did not end in ancient Egypt as my ring attests.  As with many Egyptian motifs the scarab was very popular in Victorian England as it was in the 1920's when King Tut's tomb was excavated.  Like in ancient Egypt you could find fabulous scarabs, carved out of precious stones.

But you could also find scarab jewelry with the true exoskeleton of an iridescent beetle.  Like the wings found in butterfly jewelry the beetles were usually brought from South America. 

These more realistic scarab pieces are difficult to find but truly spectacular to see.  As in most things it is hard to outdo nature's beauty and the iridescent blacks and greens of the beetles exskeleton is a wonderment to see. 

Now as I look at the ring, nestled on my right hand, I see not only the beauty of a piece in singularity but I see a ring set against a backdrop of symbol and fashion and I love it even more.