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Glite Dictionary
Scarabaeus sacer

Scarabaeus sacer

9.9
A beetle that ancient Egyptians treated as a holy sign of the sun and new life
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Scarabaeus sacer
  • Ancient Egyptians believed the Scarabaeus sacer represented the sun god Ra.

Examples

  • The tomb was adorned with carvings of the Scarabaeus sacer as a symbol of rebirth.

  • A gold amulet depicting the Scarabaeus sacer was found in the pharaoh's burial site.

  • The Scarabaeus sacer was revered in ancient Egypt.

  • Many artifacts depict the Scarabaeus sacer symbol.

  • The tomb was adorned with carvings of the Scarabaeus sacer as a symbol of rebirth.

  • Ancient Egyptians believed the Scarabaeus sacer represented the sun god Ra.

  • A gold amulet depicting the Scarabaeus sacer was found in the pharaoh's burial site.

Synonyms

scarab
vsScarabaeus sacer
  • Literature
11 9.9

A large dung beetle thought to be sacred in ancient Egypt

is the exact species name rather than the general beetle type
scarabaeus
vsScarabaeus sacer
  • Literature
9.9

A large dung beetle that ancient Egyptians thought was sacred

is the specific species especially tied to religious symbolism

Surface Forms

Scarabaeus sacer singular
Scarabaei sacer plural

Morphology

scarabaeus + sacer

This is a Latin binomial where the parts are compositional: 'scarabaeus' denotes a scarab beetle and 'sacer' (Latin) means 'sacred', so together they literally indicate a 'sacred scarab' species. The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a transparent noun + descriptor pattern, so a learner who knows both parts would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Scarabaeus sacer names the sacred scarab beetle from ancient Egypt. People watched the beetle roll a ball of dung and thought it was like the 'sun' rolling across the sky, so the beetle became a sign of 'rebirth' and a holy symbol.