October 9, 2024 7:11 pm
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Cheetah in Ancient Egypt

We provide epic adventures through the land of Civilization.

Because, according to old Egyptian knowledge, the cheetah in ancient Egypt was a significant animal, since it was employed as a depiction of the high priest to signify his strength and might. While visiting ancient Egyptian temples, you may see a man dressed in cheetah skin standing amid the people, recognizable by his powerful image supplied by the skin he wears.

Cheetahs were originally described in the late 18th century. Four subspecies are now classified as endemic to Africa and central Iran. An African subspecies was introduced into India in 2022. It is presently found mostly in tiny, dispersed populations in Northwestern, Eastern, and Southern Africa, as well as central Iran. It inhabits a variety of environments, including Serengeti savannahs, dry Saharan mountain ranges, and steep desert terrain.

Cheetahs live in three major social groups: mothers and their cubs, male “coalitions,” and lonely males. Females live a nomadic lifestyle, seeking for prey in broad home ranges, but males are more stationary and create considerably smaller territories in locations with abundant prey and access to females.

The cheetah is active throughout the day, with peaks at dawn and sunset. It eats on small- to medium-sized food, often weighing less than 40 kg (88 lb), and favors medium-sized ungulates including impala, springbok, and Thomson’s gazelles. The cheetah usually pursues its target for 60-100 metres (200-330 feet) before charging at it, trips it during the chase, and bites its throat to choke it to death. It reproduces throughout the year.

After approximately three months of gestation, mothers give birth to three or four cubs. Cheetah cubs are extremely vulnerable to predation from other big animals. They are weaned about four months and are self-sufficient by about 20 months of age.

 

Cheetah in Ancient Egypt

The cheetah is the quickest terrestrial animal and the best hunter thanks to its speed, fitness, and light muscles. The cheetah is inherently fitted for hunting; with fixed claws that are poised 24 hours a day, it is considered the best hunter animal ever!

The Ancient Egyptians were aware of this, and because the High Priest was the most powerful man in the political system (often even more powerful than the monarch), he was granted cheetah skin as his official dress code.

High Priest wearing a cheetah skin

The cheetah in ancient Egypt was a one-of-a-kind mammal with fixed claws. These creatures used to reside in Africa, and the cheetah is the only member of this family that has survived.

Symbolism and Worship:

The cheetah was deeply intertwined with ancient Egyptian religious beliefs and symbolism. Mafdet, an ancient Egyptian deity from the First Dynasty, was sometimes depicted as a cheetah, signifying the revered status of this majestic animal within the religious pantheon.

Ancient Egyptians believed that the spirits of deceased pharaohs were escorted to the afterlife by cheetahs, underscoring the spiritual significance attributed to these creatures.

Royal Associations

The cheetah’s significance extended to the political and social spheres of ancient Egypt. The High Priest, a figure of immense power within the political hierarchy, was granted cheetah skin as part of their official dress code, symbolizing the strength and might associated with this revered animal.

Taming and Hunting

Cheetahs were not only revered but also tamed and trained for hunting purposes in ancient Egypt. They were utilized as hunting companions, with depictions showing them being taken to hunting fields in carts or by horseback, hooded and blindfolded, and then released to pursue prey.

Cultural Significance

The presence of the cheetah in ancient Egypt extended beyond religious and political realms, as it was also kept as a pet by ancient Egyptians, reflecting its status as a revered and cherished animal within the society.

The role of The cheetah in ancient Egypt was multifaceted as a symbol of religious significance, a royal emblem, a hunting companion, and even a cherished pet underscores its profound impact on the cultural tapestry of this ancient civilization.

Watching the Cheetah in Ancient Egypt by joining one of our Egyptologist tour guides is a great opportunity to learn about the ancient Egyptian temples and see the high priest figures in each one as the tour guide points out and explains every detail. Enjoy a wonderful Nile Cruise with Egypt Fun Tours by joining one of our Egypt travel packages.

Read about the Cheetah on Wikipedia

Egypt Historical Tours

Explore Egypt Destinations

Best Tourist Attractions in Egypt

The Civilization of Ancient Egypt

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Islamic cairo and khan el khalili- great tour

September 28, 2024

Wonderful tour with the guide Hamada. I did not feel rushed at all, he explained a lot of facts about the city, the mosque , the water storage room, and also brought me to no hassle shops. He picked a great place to eat and have Turkish coffee and a cold lemon mint drink. We took a took took when we got tired from walking. He also happens to be a great photographer and helped take beautiful pictures. Overall a wonderful tour and great experience.

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Janet

Big tick off our bucket list!

August 29, 2024

Booked the evening before and were able to do everything we hoped to in a day, with a knowledgeable guide & at a reasonable price! Lunch was included and absolutely delicious! Learnt about the history of Egypt which was the most important part of sightseeing Cairo/Giza. Hamada also gave us recommendations for the rest of our Egypt trip. HIGHLY recommend! Thanks Hamada 🙂

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Brenda

A great day!!!!

August 29, 2024

Thank you Hamada for an incredible day!

Thank you for the stories and the history, you are so knowledgeable and we didn’t feel rushed at all or like we missed out on things, will definitely be recommending this tour to everyone 🙂

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Britt Brenda

Valley of the Kings, Hepchepsut

July 22, 2024

I never had a more positive experience and educational time than this tours. Learning about a variety of kings and queens was amazing! Tour guide was super nice and helped me and my friend every step of the way! Including bargaining for a few souvenirs! I will never forget this experience and the generosity of Egypts people and our guide! He is amazing and I highly recommend him for your tour guide!!

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James Risenhoover

Lenka Traverlers

July 9, 2024

Egypt Fun Tours was contracted by our travel agency Lenka Travelers to arrange and guide us through parts of Eqypt and Jordon. They did a fabulous job. The hotels, restaurants, places we visited and transportation were the best. Our guide in Egypt, Mohammad was very knowable, spoke perfect English and made each stop we made interesting and alive. I’d recommend Egypt Fun Tour to anyone planning any tour in Egypt and or Jordan

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Sjhedcon

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