The Sacred Beetle

Sacred to the men of yore This lowly insect of the dust. They worshipped not Whom we adore, But in this creature put their trust. In the days of ancient Egypt living organisms as well as heavenly bodies were worshipped as gods.  Among those so distinguished was a small black insect known as the scarab beetle.  Why was this ebony bug held sacred by the ancients?  A very fascinating story presents itself in this connection.  Already the early Egyptians observed the unique habit of this insect...