A question for those who know their mythology/folkore/fairy tales:
Is there any basis in mythology or folk lore or fairy tales in which Scarabs protect against the Undead? Or was that just something that came originally from Roberta? I'm curious if in Ancient Egyptian mythology, scarabs had any sort of dark importance like that?
If I recall, the scarab was more a talisman in ancient Egypt as it had some divine connotations. I don't think it specifically had any ability to ward off the dead, but being as it was a talisman, I'm sure that people used it however their beliefs demanded. If they had a belief in the undead or evil spirits, I'm sure they would use the scarab would protect them. But as for it being specifically a talisman to ward off the undead, I don't think so. More just a symbol of the divine in general. Kind of like people who wear a cross necklace today, or the medal of a saint.
Then again, it's been a very, very long time since I studied anything having to do with Egyptology, so I could be completely off.
Per the information on wikipedia, at least, looks the scarab was symbolic, but not an amulet of protection or anything.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarab_(artifact)
Would this be the artifact, or the actual insect? I'm not familiar with the artifact, but it does seem to stand for a good luck charm, as it were. But the insect doesn't have much significance outside of Egyptian mythology. It does, however, stand for the god, Khepri; a manifestation of the sun god, Ra.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarabaeus_sacer
D&D?
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Scarab_of_Protection
Heart scarab?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_scarab
Warding off evil?
http://www.unl.edu/museum/research/entomology/Egyptian_Sacred_Scarab/egs-text.htm
QuoteThe small magical object was believed imbued with particualar protective powers that warded off evil and provided good things for the owner for this life