Silver Pendants Articles

Silver Scarab Pendants

A very popular silver pendant amongst people, who are drawn to the Egyptian mythology, is the silver scarab pendant. Most people don't know the mythology behind their silver scarab pendant even though the scarab is a prominent symbol in Egyptology. Having an idea as to where the concept comes from for your silver scarab pendant helps deepen the symbolism and the meaning attached to it.

The ancient Egyptians have long held the scarab as sacred. They believed the scarab was the symbol of a sun god called Khepera, one of the aspects, attributed to this deity, was the ability to transform inert matter into active life. The symbolism associated with the scarab was derived from a dung beetle that lays their eggs within a ball of clay. From within this ball of clay the beetle would hatch and symbolized the creation of new life. So a silver scarab pendant most often symbolizes creation or life.

The majority of amulets that the Egyptians made were mostly from carved soapstone and then glazed with crushed stones, sand, and gems, these were then worn or carried as a protective amulet. Egyptian style silver scarab pendants may seem like a common form of jewelry today, in ancient Egypt master Smith's would fashion elaborate neck pieces of silver or gold which often included a scarab in its motif which were worn not only for adornment but for protection, in both this life and in the afterlife, as well.


Many of the silver scarab pendants that are on the market are imported directly from Egypt. The majority of silver scarab pendants are crafted using the casting method, which silver is turned to liquid under high heat and poured into a mold. And although they can make several at a time, each silver scarab pendant still needs to be finished by hand.

In the United States we are used to the standard of our fine silver being about 90% silver and 10% metal alloy, usually copper, to increase the silver's strength. Egyptian silver is generally 80% silver and 20% metal alloy. Generally if it comes from Egypt it is not considered to be fine sterling silver. Although in Egypt the 80/20 mixture is considered to be fine silver by their standards.

This is something to keep in mind when you are purchasing a silver scarab pendant and is not meant to deter you if you choose to purchase your silver scarab pendant made from Egyptian silver, and this is for informational purposes only. You should be aware that because Egyptian silver is made with a 20 % metal alloy, you may notice that your piece will need more frequent cleanings to keep your silver scarab pendant looking like new.

Normally, if they are crafted and stamped on the back, they are domestically crafted and your silver scarab pendant will in general need the same amount of care as any other pieces of silver jewelry may need. With either domestic or foreign silver, caring for your piece is generally the same.

Using a soft jewelers cloth and a bit of polish, you would clean your silver scarab pendant with a gentle circular motion. Although nowadays they have silver polishing cloths that do not need silver polish in order to remove any tarnish that may have accumulated on your silver scarab pendant.