The scarab, or dung beetle, is an important symbol in Egyptian mythology, appearing on jewelry, art, and amulets. The small dung beetle surrounds its eggs with a large ball of nourishing dung. Its young later emerge, fully formed, from the ball. This behavior lead to the dung beetle being connected with the sun, rolling across the sky, and with the forces of creation and rebirth.
The dung beetle lends its appearance to the scarab-headed god Khepri, one of several solar deities. Khepri is represented in both human and scarab form and is often shown holding the sun aloft as it travels across the sky.