JERUSALEM, NOV 29 – A 12-year-old Israeli girl found a 3,500-year-old Egyptian scarab beetle amulet, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in a statement yesterday.
The talisman, which the child found while hiking with his family under the ancient site of Tel Qana in the city of Hod Hasharon, featured two scorpions standing head to tail, reported Xinhua.
According to the IAA, the scorpion symbol symbolizes the Egyptian goddess Serket, who is considered a protective goddess, especially in the afterlife.
The amulet also contains the nefer symbol, which in Egyptian means ‘good’ or ‘chosen’.
Such amulets are designed to resemble dung beetles, which were sacred in the eyes of the ancient Egyptians as symbols of new life.
The IAA explained that the amulets found in Israel, sometimes used as seals, are evidence of Egyptian rule and cultural influence in the region. – Named
