Egyptian Limestone Khepri Winged Scarab

Late Period Circa 664 to 332 BCE.    The winged scarab was one of the most significant religious symbols in ancient Egyptian culture, representing divine protection and rebirth. The limestone winged scarab amulet  dates to the Late Period Circa 664 to 332 BCE.  The use of limestone as material was common during the Late Period and the naturalistic carving style of the beetle body and wings is consistent with Late Period craftsmanship. The winged scarab held profound meaning in ancient Egyptian beliefs: It represented Khepri, the god of the morning sun, who was believed to roll the sun across the sky each day at daybreak.  The wings allowed the scarab to symbolically join the daily rising and setting of the sun, representing the eternal cycle of death and rebirth.  When placed on mummies, winged scarabs guaranteed rebirth for the deceased and assured a smooth journey to the afterlife.This limestone example displays typical features of Egyptian winged scarabs with a central scarab beetle