| “ | Who made this thing?! | ” |
The Scarab of Imohtep is an artifact featured in the opening sequence of Season One and "The New Guy".
History[]
The Scarab was collected during the reign of Warehouse 2.
After Warehouse 2's interior was flooded with sand and subsequently emptied, its inventory was transferred to Warehouse 13 to be kept in the Ovoid Quarantine until they could be stored properly over time. During this slow process, Claudia Donovan opened the box the Scarab was kept in, unleashing it to run amok throughout the Warehouse.
After Trailer was brought to the Warehouse to provide information regarding the theft of the Doorknob from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, the Scarab appeared in the Main Office, causing Trailer to chase it into the storage floor below. Amongst the shelves, Trailer eventually caught the Scarab and returned it to Claudia after being called by Ivan Pavlov's Bell, where it was presumably stored properly once again.[1]
Effects[]
The scarab can become animated and move as if were a true living scarab, capable of crawling across surfaces and flying with its wings.
It is capable of digging through solid material with ease, including the concrete floors of the Warehouse.
Real World Connection[]
Imhotep was vizier to the pharaoh of Egypt in 2600 BCE and was high priest to the sun god Ra. He's considered to be one of the first architects, engineers, and physicians and his name is translated as "He who came in peace". Imhotep was one of few commoners that was accorded with divine status (specifically as a god of medicine) after death, which was reserved for pharaohs. He was considered by Egyptians to be an inventive and creative intellectual. Imhotep also brought medicine to Egypt, and wrote journals that didn't rely on magical thinking. His death is a mystery and nobody has found his tomb.
Egyptian Heart Scarab
The ancient Egyptians worshiped scarab beetles as "Khepera", which means (among other possible translations) "it came into being" for how they emerge from the burrows where they're born. The scarab god Khepera was believed to push the sun across the sky, just like real beetles push balls of dung across the desert. Scarab amulets were often placed over the hearts of mummies. These "heart scarabs" were meant to be weighed against the feather of truth during final judgement. These amulets often had spells from the Book of the Dead inscribed on them, as the god Khepri (an alternate form) was, like the dung beetle, life emergent from death; in other words, resurrection.
Trivia[]
- It is also called the 'Whispering Scarab' by CCH Pounder in multiple podcasts.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Opening Credits (Season One)
- The New Guy (in-show debut)
- Queen For A Day
- Past Imperfect