The word 'scarab' conjures images of ancient Egyptian royalty, mummies, and mystical symbols of eternal life. For thousands of years, the scarab, modeled after the dung beetle, was one of the most important and widespread motifs in Egyptian culture. However, the same term has taken on a completely different meaning in the 21st century within the field of pharmacology, leading to two distinct answers to the question: what is the use of scarab?
The Ancient Use of the Scarab: A Symbol of Rebirth and Protection
The most famous use of the scarab comes from ancient Egypt, where the dung beetle was observed pushing balls of dung across the ground. The Egyptians likened this action to the sun god Khepri rolling the sun across the sky each day, a daily act of creation and rebirth. This powerful symbolism led to the widespread creation of scarab-shaped amulets and artifacts, crafted from materials ranging from glazed steatite and faience to precious gold and jewels.
Diverse Applications in Ancient Egyptian Society
Beyond simple ornamentation, the ancient scarab served several vital purposes in society and religious practices:
- Amulets and Jewelry: Worn by both the living and the deceased, scarab amulets were believed to provide protection, bring good fortune, and ward off evil spirits. They were a universal symbol of hope and eternal renewal.
- Funerary Rites: The most significant use was in funerary rituals. A larger, specialized 'heart scarab' was often placed over the heart of a mummy before burial. These heart scarabs were inscribed with spells from the Book of the Dead to ensure the heart would not speak against the deceased during the judgment of the soul in the afterlife.
- Seals of Authority: The flat underside of many scarabs was inscribed with hieroglyphs, names of pharaohs, officials, or religious phrases. These could be pressed into wet clay to authenticate documents, secure jars, and mark ownership.
- Commemorative Records: Pharaohs, like Amenhotep III, commissioned large, detailed scarabs to celebrate significant events, such as hunting expeditions or royal marriages. These served as historical records and propaganda distributed as diplomatic gifts.
The Modern Use of the Scarab: A Name for Anti-Parasitic Medication
In modern pharmacology and dermatological treatment, the name "Scarab" refers to a line of topical medications, such as Scarab Lotion and Scarab Cream. This usage has no connection to the ancient Egyptian insect but is a trademarked name for a product designed to treat infestations of scabies and lice.
Scarab Medication: Ingredients and Function
The pharmaceutical product Scarab functions as a topical antiparasitic medication. The active ingredients can include agents that are effective at killing both the parasites and their eggs, helping to prevent reinfestation, and potentially agents that help soothe the skin, reducing inflammation, redness, and itching associated with the infestations.
These products are applied externally to the affected skin or scalp and must be used strictly according to a doctor's instructions due to the nature of the ingredients.
Ancient Symbol vs. Modern Medication: A Comparative Table
To highlight the distinction between the two uses of the term 'scarab', the following table compares their contexts, purposes, and significance.
| Feature | Ancient Egyptian Scarab | Modern Pharmaceutical 'Scarab' |
|---|---|---|
| Context | Religion, Mythology, Culture | Dermatology, Medicine, Pharmacology |
| Object | Amulets, seals, jewelry, artifacts | A commercial topical cream or lotion |
| Purpose | Protection, rebirth, good luck, identity, funerary rites | Treating and killing parasites (mites and lice) |
| Composition | Carved stone (steatite, jasper), faience, gold | Chemical compounds in a base |
| Related Deity | Khepri, the god of the rising sun | None; name is purely commercial |
| Significance | Spiritual, symbolic, protective, historical | Clinical, therapeutic, and anti-parasitic |
| Appearance | Beetle-shaped artifact, often inscribed | Cream or lotion in a tube or bottle |
Other Contexts and Modern Relevance
While the primary uses differ significantly, the legacy of the ancient scarab continues to influence modern culture. Scarab imagery is still popular in contemporary jewelry, fashion, and art, where it maintains its symbolic associations with rebirth and protection. Tourists visiting Egypt can purchase scarab souvenirs as charms for good luck. Furthermore, researchers in the field of chemical communication study the pheromones of scarab beetles for potential applications in pest management, showcasing a biological context related to the insect itself.
Conclusion
The term 'scarab' offers a fascinating study in how words can carry drastically different meanings across time and context. The ancient Egyptian scarab, a sacred symbol of life, regeneration, and divinity, served as a powerful amulet and seal for thousands of years. Conversely, the modern pharmaceutical product 'Scarab' is a functional, chemical-based medication for treating parasitic skin conditions. While they share a name, these two applications are entirely unrelated, illustrating a complete divergence in purpose and meaning in the fields of history and pharmacology. Understanding this dual identity is key to answering what the use of scarab is, depending on the specific context in which the question is asked.
For further reading:
For a deeper dive into the symbolic significance of scarabs, visit the McClung Museum's guide to Egyptian scarabs.
