scarab
scarab — noun
1. a large beetle from the Scarabaeidae family that lives in hot, dry regions. In a
a large beetle from the Scarabaeidae family that lives in hot, dry regions. In ancient Egypt, this insect was treated as a holy creature because people connected its behaviour with the movement of the sun.
Marco found a dead scarab near the Nile and showed it to the guide.
The scarab beetle appears in many ancient Egyptian wall paintings and stone carvings.
scarab in Egyptian art: collocation with wall paintings
Yael watched a scarab beetle push a ball of dung across the desert sand.
A large black scarab landed on Mert's arm while he was sitting near the pyramids.
The scarab shell shines with a blue-green colour in strong sunlight.
- dung beetle
refers to a subgroup of scarabs that feed on animal waste; not all scarabs are dung beetles
文法句型
scarab + verb
a/the scarab
用法筆記
In ancient Egyptian religion, the scarab was seen as a symbol of the sun god Ra because it rolls balls of dung across the ground, just as Ra was believed to move the sun across the sky. This made the beetle a sacred creature.
2. a small piece of stone, metal, or glass carved to look like a beetle, made in an
a small piece of stone, metal, or glass carved to look like a beetle, made in ancient Egypt. People wore or carried it as a charm for good luck, a piece of jewellery, or a symbol of new life after death.
Nellie bought a small gold scarab necklace at the museum gift shop in Cairo.
gold scarab necklace: material + jewellery context
Archaeologists found a blue stone scarab inside an ancient Egyptian tomb near Luxor.
Ari inherited a carved scarab ring from his great-grandfather, who had lived in Egypt.
The museum display showed a dozen scarab amulets made of gold, stone, and blue glass.
- scarab amulet
emphasises the protective, magical purpose of the object
- scarab pendant
used when the object was worn on a chain or cord around the neck
文法句型
scarab + noun (modifier)
a/the scarab
用法筆記
Scarab amulets were often placed inside the wrappings of a mummy to protect the dead person in the afterlife. They were commonly made from stone, faience (a type of glazed ceramic), or carved from precious metals and gems.