In ancient Egyptian religion, the sun god Ra is seen to roll across the sky each day, transforming bodies and souls. Beetles of the Scarabaeidae family roll dung into a ball as food and as a brood chamber in which to lay eggs that are later transformed into larvae. For these reasons the scarab was seen as a symbol of this heavenly cycle and of the idea of rebirth or regeneration. The Egyptian god, Khepri, Ra as the rising Sun, was often depicted as a scarab beetle or as a scarab beetle-headed man. The ancient Egyptians believed that Khepri renewed the sun every day before rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it again, the next day.

KHEPRI PENDANT

Diamonds; 18 carat gold; silver; scarab beetle.

40 x 55 mm

Commissioned by the Victoria & Albert Jewellery Collection in 2012.

Materials:
18ct white and yellow gold; diamonds

Email announcement for Christmas exhibition 2012.