This class trip should remain in the memory of many of the students for a long time: During a trip near Tel Aviv, one of the companions discovered an ancient amulet on the ground. The so-called scarab is based on a beetle and has its origins in ancient Egypt.
A more than 3,000-year-old scarab beetle was found during a school trip near the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv. “We were wandering around when I saw what appeared to be a small toy on the ground,” said Israel Antiquities Authority’s Gilad Stern, who led the school trip to Azor.
When he picked up the beetle stone, he was amazed. “It was a scarab with a clearly carved scene”. The 8th graders were very excited. A scarab is a type of amulet in the shape of the pillworm beetle that originated in Ancient Egypt. The beetle stone was once a seal, later it turned into a protection and lucky charm.
According to the Antiquities Authority, the find dates from the Bronze Age and is coated with a blue-green glaze. Accordingly, it was “a symbol of power and status” and may have been worn on a necklace or ring. The scene depicted on the scarab probably represents the granting of legitimacy to a local ruler.
