Girl Finds 3,500-Year-Old Egyptian Scarab Amulet in Israel
After looking online, the family realized the importance of the object and contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority.
An ancient Egyptian scarab amulet dating back around 3,500 years was found near an archaeological site in Hod Hasharon by 12-year-old Dafna Filshteiner during a family trip, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday morning.
While hiking near Tel Qana, Filshteiner was looking for porcupine needles and smooth pebbles when she found an unusual object, which she had initially assumed was a stone.
โI showed it to my mother, and she said it was just an ordinary stone or a bead. But then I saw a decoration and stubbornly insisted it was more than that,โ Filshteiner recalled.
After looking online, the family realized the importance of the object and contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The amulet, which features a scarab with two scorpions and other symbols on it, was examined by Dr. Yitzhak Paz, a Bronze Age expert at the Israel Antiquities Authority, who confirmed the scarab was from the Egyptian New Kingdom period, about 3,500 years ago.
Generally, scarabs were viewed as sacred creatures in Egyptian culture and were associated with the early morning sun's Egyptian god Khepri. Since the symbol is connected to the Egyptian pantheon, the scarabs symbolize the concept of existence, growth, and new life.
Additionally, this beetle was seen as a sign of a divine creator because of its ability to create life from a dung ball, as the beetle lays its eggs inside said balls, the Israel Antiquities Authority noted.
Aside from the scarab, the scorpions on the amulet may also hold a religious significance to ancient Egyptians, as "the scorpion symbol represented the Egyptian goddess Serket, who was believed to protect pregnant mothers,โ Dr. Paz explained.
The Israel Antiquities Authority also explained that the scarab also has the โneferโ symbol, which means โgoodโ or โchosen,โ and a symbol of the royal staff.
