Believe it or not, I possess probably one of the few petrified dungs (quite possibly --in utera of said dung, the eggs of actual dungs-- rolled by these precious scarabs from prehistoria) in existance today from those highly honorable creatures.
I don't know if you have seen the actual size of them. In my photo album one person is holding a single scarab that is larger than his masculine hand.
Now, I understand why the petrified dung was so huge. All this time, I imagined this tiny beetle kept storing it's hundred or so dungs and rolled it for a living.
Now, you can't tell me this size didn't command recognition to regal attentions. It caught my attention.
Wonder if they had a good bite. I imagine so.
I thought they were regaled due to the apparent sheilds they appear to have protecting their body. I was incorrect.
I'm intrigued by the scarab you say you have a photo of and would very much like to see it. On average a Scarabaeus sacer (the scarabs in ancient Egypt) ranged between 25 and 30 mm, which is a considerable way of the size of a human hand. Are you sure it's not a goliath beetle?
Your input is greatly appreciated. I may have climbed the assumption ladder, then.
Surely, the photo is attached.
1. Click on my photo or name.
2. See tabs and select "photo" tab.
The large scarab I mentioned is there for your identification.
Please do share your findings.
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Also, unrelated (but related) I found more details on the history from Crystalinks.
Reference 1: sections 107 through 118 of the copyright law (title 17, U. S. Code). One of the more important limitations is the doctrine of fair use.
http://www.crystalinks.com/scarabs.html
Referencing Crystalinks above,
It appears the legend I had come to know about the scarab was that it was regarding something immortal or afterlife. In this study today, it seems I did find the reference to the following:
1. Equated with rolling of the ball to the rolling of the sun across the sky.
2. Protection.
3. Safe passage to the afterlife. Birth and rebirth.
4. ''legend goes - a dung beetle called 'Aksak' made the first woman and man on Earth from clay'' (which means in no way shape or form infers that man is full of crap. This is merely a legend.)
5. An officials seal.
6. I add, royal, by mere use and reverance by the royals and officials. Therefore, power.
Well theyre entirely different species and are quite distinctive which is why I was quite surprised by the size of the one in the photo however they do share some traits and some of the scarab family do look quite similar to a goliath beetle, the goliath is pretty much as large as any insect can grow due to its passive respiratory system, much larger and its inner most body cells just get starved of oxygen, there have been cases of the larger goliath beetles suffocating because they are moved to environments with a low concentration of oxygen in the air.