Scarab Head Types

Lunate Head

Plate E.      

Plate H.      

Plate L.        

Deep Head

Plate F.    

Plate J.    

Plate M.    

Merging Head

Plate G.     

Plate K.     

Plate N.      

Ribbed Head

Quadruped Heads, and Peculiarities

The details of workmanship which may also serve for distinctions are: (1) the feather pattern on the edge to imitate the hairy legs; (2) the head of lunate form, or (3) deep form, or (4) merging into the clypeus; (5) notched clypeus; (6) smooth clypeus; (7) V-shaped marks at the top of the elytra; (8) curling lines on back.

On the basis of these various distinctions twenty-three classes may be formed, which can almost always be quickly distinguished so as to find any given type. (See plates lix to lxxi, where all the varieties of form are drawn.) The types classified as follows :

A - B.  Fully modeled legs on the underside, no plates,
26th (Saite) dynasty - Ptolemaic Period, 663 - 30 B.C.

C - D.  Feathered Legs, plates X - XV, 10th - 15th dynasties, 2040 - 1570 BC

On C and D, a feather pattern on the edge imitates hairy legs.

If legs are feathered, C if strongly feathered on the whole length, or D if gapped or feathered more on the back legs then on the front legs.  If not feathered, then E - Z.

C and D, being small classes, are grouped by the form of the head, in the order of the different genera.

C.  Fore and aft feathered sides for the front and back legs, plates X—XIII, 10th - 13th dynasties,  2040 - 1680 BC

Legs feathered on the the whole length.

Grouped by the form of the head, in the order of the different genera.

D.  Legs feathered one way only, Plates X—XV, 10th - 15th dynasty, 2040 - 1570 BC

Feathered legs gapped or feathered more on the back legs then on the front legs. 

Grouped by the form of the head, in the order of the different genera.

E - N.  Scarabaeus

E - G.   Scarabaeus with V notches on elytra, Plates XVIII - XXV,
12th - 26th dynasty, rare before 18th

Notch marks on classes E, F, G, vary in form. On examining the various small differences statistically, some strong preferences for certain types are found in some periods, though not exclusively of one age. 

The V or I line from the girdle line (as E 7, E 28) is early and continues late, 12th -26th dynasty, rare before 18th.

The V from the girdle to the side line (as E 9) begins in the 12th dynasty (after c. 1991 BC), 12th -26th dynasty, rare before 18th.

The diagonal line from the girdle to the side (as E 4) begins under Thothmes III (ruled c. 1479 -1425 BC), 18th - 25th dynasty.

The loop on the girdle (as E 17 and F 20) does not begin till Rameses II (ruled c. 1279 - 1213 BC), after 19th dynasty.

E.  Scarabaeus, V notches on elytra, lunate head, Plates XVIII—XXVI,
12th - 26th dynasty, rare before 18th

Forms of the lunate head from the bottom of plate E are shown below.

F. Scarabaeus, V notches on elytra, Deep head, Plates XVIII—XXV,
12th - 25th dynasty, rare before 18th

Forms of the deep head from the bottom of plate F are shown below.

G. Scarabaeus V notches on elytra, Merging head, Plates XVIII—XXV

Forms of the merging head from the bottom of plate F are shown below.

H - K.  Scarabaeus, Notched clypeus, Plates V—XXVI

H.  Scarabaeus, Notched clypeus, Lunate head, Plates V—XIX

J.  Scarabaeus, Notched clypeus, Deep head, Plates XI—XIII

Forms of the deep head are shown at the bottom of the plate.

K.  Scarabaeus, Notched clypeus, Merging head, Plates XI—XXVI

Forms of the merging head are shown at the bottom of the plate.

L - N.  Scarabaeus, Smooth clypeus, Plates III—XXV

L.  Scarabaeus, Smooth clypeus, Lunate head, Plates III—XXV

Forms of the lunate head are shown at the bottom of the plate.

M.  Scarabaeus, Smooth clypeus, Deep head, Plates IX—XVIII

Forms of the deep head are shown at the bottom of the plate.

N.  Scarabaeus, Smooth clypeus, Merging head, Plates IV—XXV,

Forms of the merging head are shown at the bottom of the plate.

O.  Scarabaeus venerabilis, ribbed elytra, Plates XIX—XX,

Scarabaeus venerabilis is marked by ribbed elytra.

Scarabaeus venerabilis are also found as heart scarabs. 

P.  Scarabaeus? ribbed head, Plates XXV—XXVI

Q.  Curl on back, Plates XII—XXV

R.  Quadruped heads, and peculiarities, Plates XIX—XXV

S – T.  Catharsius, 13th – 16th dynasties, 1786 – 1570 BC, Plates XII - XVI

A definitely square head seems to belong to Catharsius.

Catharsius head begins in the middle of the xiith, and extends down to the xiiith and xvith dynasties respectively

S.  Catharsius, Square head, Plates XII—XIII

T.  Catharsius, A head, Plates XIII—XVI

U.  Copris, Plates XIII—XVI, Hyksos age only, 13th - 16th dynasties, 1786 - 1570 BC

Occasionally the clypeus extends far back in a pointed form over the head, apparently imitated from the horn of the Copris.

V.  Gymnopleurus, Side notch, Plates XVIII—XXV,

W.  Gymnopleurus, Collar, Plates V—XXVI

X - Y.  Hypselogenia, 12th Dynasty - Rameses II, 1991 - 1213 BC

Hypselogenia is rare in the 12th dynasty, and is not found later than Rameses II, 1991 - 1213 BC.

X.  Hypselogenia, Regular, Plates XII—XVIII,

Y.  Hypselogenia, Modified, Plates VI—XVIII,

Z. Scaraboids

AA.  Heart Scarabs, after c. 1700 B.C.

The earliest heart scarabs appeared during the second intermediate period (c. 1700 B.C.) and became relatively more common during the New Kingdom The earliest heart scarabs appeared during the second intermediate period (c. 1700 B.C.) and became relatively more common during the New Kingdom.

Crescent line on the head, on about one in thirty of all periods; but one in eight in the Ethiopian and Saite age.

Scroll pattern - Common in the middle kingdom, arises first as a system under Pepi, but is never found continuous on his scarabs; and it is only in the 12th dynasty that the continuous scroll was developed, which became so general in the 13th - 14th, and which lingered on even through the 19th. 

Continuous scroll pattern -  Developed 12th dynasty, general in the 13th - 14th, lingered through the 19th. 

Deep Y outline of the elytra is only found on scarabs of Khofra and Zedra (? Dad-ef-ra); the nearest approach to it is at the close of the xiith, and the xiiith dynasties, but that is less deep, and the form of the head and clypeus is then different.

The number of lines in the girdle, or in the division of the wing cases, is not exclusively characteristic of age; but certain types prevail at different times. One girdle line and two or three vertical, and two girdle with two vertical lines, prevail in the Middle Kingdom. Two girdle lines with one vertical is chiefly of Old Kingdom and Saite ages. The double girdle with three vertical lines is mainly of xxist to xxvth dynasties.V from the girdle to the side line begins in the 12th dynasty.

Palm-branch pattern on the back, in Class J, is only known from late xith to xivth dynasties, and in a one-sided form in the xvith.

One girdle line and two or three vertical, and two girdle with two vertical lines, prevail in the Middle Kingdom.

Two girdle lines with one vertical is chiefly of Old Kingdom and Saite ages.

The double girdle with three vertical lines is mainly of 21st to 25th dynasties.

Smooth backs decrease in the later periods.

 Scarabs for sale in the Forum Ancient Coins shop.