In ancient Egyptian funerary practice, a heart scarab was placed over a mummy’s heart to protect it during judgment. These large scarab amulets were usually made from stone, especially dark green stone such as schist or basalt, and were inscribed with funerary text.
The heart had a special status in Egyptian belief because it was associated with memory, character, thought, and moral identity. During judgment, Anubis weighed the heart against the feather of Ma’at. A spell on the heart scarab asked the heart not to testify against its owner.
Heart scarabs were distinct from ordinary scarab amulets, which commonly symbolized regeneration through the scarab beetle’s connection with the sun god Khepri. The scarab’s protective meaning made it suitable for burial, while its inscription connected it directly with the deceased’s fate in the afterlife.