scarabaeus

scar·a·bae·us

S0123800 (skăr′ə-bē′əs)n. pl. scar·a·bae·us·es or scar·a·bae·i (-bē′ī′) See scarab.

[Latin; see scarab.]

scarabaeus

(ˌskærəˈbiːəs) n, pl -baeuses or -baei (-ˈbiːaɪ) (Animals) a less common name for scarab

scar•ab

(ˈskær əb)

n. 1. any scarabaeid beetle, esp. Scarabaeus sacer. 2. Also, scarabaeus. a representation or image of a beetle, much used among the ancient Egyptians as a symbol, seal, or amulet. [1570–80; short for scarabaeus] scar′a•boid`, adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

scarabaeus - scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptiansscarab, Scarabaeus sacerdung beetle - any of numerous beetles that roll balls of dung on which they feed and in which they lay eggsgenus Scarabaeus - type genus of the Scarabaeidae

Scarabaeus

a genus of beetles of the subfamily Scarabaei-nae. The best-known species is the common scarabaeus (Scarabaeus sacer), which has a smooth black body that reaches 4 cm in length. The head and tibiae of the forelegs are sharply serrated. Found throughout southern Europe, North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Middle Asia, scarabaeuses feed on dung, which they have rolled into balls. In ancient Egypt the rolling of dung into balls by the beetles was interpreted as a symbol of the sun’s movement across the sky, and the dens on the beetle’s head were likened to the sun’s rays; hence, the beetle was deified, and offerings were made to it.

REFERENCES

Fabre, J. H. Zhizn’ nasekomykh, 2nd ed. Moscow-Leningrad [1924]. (Translated from French.)
Zhizn’ zhivotnykh, vol 3, Moscow, 1969. Page 324.

scarabaeus

scar·a·bae·us

scarabaeus

scar•ab

Scarabaeus

Scarabaeus

REFERENCES

scarabaeus

Synonyms for scarabaeus

noun scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptians

Synonyms

Related Words