'Scarabeus sacer' symbolized the rising sun, one of the three stages in the life of the sun [god](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=160) [Re](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=313). Within the funerary context it became synonymous with the resurrection or rather rebirth, and it is for this reason that the [heart](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=175)\-shaped [scarab](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=330) was placed in the [mummy](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=251) of the deceased, replacing magically the inert heart of the dead person. This [heart scarab](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=176) exhibits faithfully the anatomy of the insect: the head with its mandibles, eyes and antennae are finely carved. The hieroglyphic text which covers the underside of the scarab is a formula taken from chapter 30B of the '[Book of the Dead](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=93)'. The deceased was required to recite this during the judgement of the dead, so that his confession would agree with that of his own heart.

|Present location|KMKG - MRAH \[07/003\] [BRUSSELS](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=95)|
|:-|:-|
|Inventory number|E.8064|
|Dating|[NEW KINGDOM](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=268)|
|Archaeological Site|UNKNOWN|
|Category|[HEART](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=175) [SCARAB](http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=330)|
|Material|UNSPECIFIED ROCK|
|Technique|HEWN; POLISHED; ENGRAVED; ENGRAVED|
|Height|2.8 cm|
|Width|4.7 cm|
||
||

# Bibliography

* M.-P. Vanlathem, Oudegyptische lijkkisten en mummies - Cercueils et momies de l'Égypte ancienne, Bruxelles 1983, 38-39
* Witte magie, zwarte magie. Cataloog (Exposition), Bruxelles 1995, nº 5

Heart scarab