Khephra

In Egyptian mythology, early Heliopolitan cosmology to be exact, Khephra (Keper) was the name of the creator-god. He is considered to be a form of Ra. The Egyptian root "kheper" signifies several things, according to context, most notably the verb "to create" or "to transform", and also the word for "scarab beetle". The scarab, or dung beetle, was considered symbolic of the sun since it rolled a ball of dung in which it laid its eggs around with it - this was considered symbolic of the sun god propelling the sphere of the sun through the sky. In later Heliopolitan belief, which named the sun variously according to the time of the day, Khephra was the nighttime form of the sun.

SEE ALSO Ra.

[Source: Shawn C. Knight, "Egyptian Mythology FAQ" ]