Khepri as a scarab beetle, pushing the sun across the sky

In Egyptian mythology, the god Khepri was generally depicted as a scarab, which is what the name means.

The scarab beetle is a type of coleoptera noted for rolling dung into spherical balls and pushing it; it is also known for its habit of laying its eggs in animal dung and the bodies of various kinds of dead animals, including other scarabs. Thus, the ancient Egyptians associated the animal with rebirth, renewal and resurrection.

Khepri was a solar deity who pushed the sun (as the scarab pushes the dung) across the sky every day, as well as carrying it safely through the underworld every night.

See also Ra.

Alternative forms of the name: Khepera, Kheper, Chepri, Khepra

In China Miéville's books Perdido Street Station and The Scar, Khepri are a species of pseudo-arthropod people, the females being intelligent humanoids having art and culture expressed through biological resin sculptures and an oral history. Female khepri differ from humans in that their skin is crimson in color, and each has a giant scarab for a head. Male Khepri are smaller non-sentient scarabs without the depending humanoid body. The secondary protagonist of Perdido Street Station is Khepri.