kheper

Kheper is an Egyptian deity representing the scarab beetle, specifically the dung beetle. In ancient Egyptian mythology, the scarab beetle was associated with rebirth, regeneration, and the emerging life cycle. As Kheper, the scarab beetle god was believed to push the sun across the sky, symbolizing the cyclical nature of time and the renewal of life.

According to mythological accounts, Kheper emerged from the primordial waters of chaos alongside the sun god Atum, and played a crucial role in the creation of the world. One myth states that Kheper retrieved the sun god from his defeat by the serpent Apep, saving the world from destruction. In another myth, Kheper carries the sun god, symbolizing the daily course of the sun across the sky.

As a god associated with rebirth, Kheper protected the young king, who underwent a symbolic death with the old king to be reborn and continue the cycle of life. The scarab beetle's cyclical process, where an egg is laid and then rolled into a ball with the individual digging its way out of the ball, was noted by the ancient Egyptians as a symbol of transformation and individual development. Additionally, Kheper's characteristic actions mirrored the sun on its journey across the sky, highlighting the importance of life renewal and determination.

Skeletal remains and artifacts depicting Kheper emphasize his relationship with fertility, agriculture, and bounty. Used in funerary contexts, Kheper is often depicted on scarab wafers and tomb-walls as a protective symbol for the dead journeying into the afterlife, harnessing the cyclical renewal for eternal resurrection.