Blog Category: Animals in Ancient Egypt

Animals of ancient Egypt

Animals in Ancient Egypt: Guardians, Deities and Cultural Icons

To the ancient Egyptians, the animal kingdom was a domain of respect, almost to the point of reverence; their civilization was completely intertwined-a complex tapestry of art, religion, and society. Animals were not just a part of the natural world; they were an integral part of Egyptian life, serving in functions that ranged from guardians of the afterlife to deified beings and symbols of authority.

It is an attempt at the multi-layered importance of animals for Ancient Egypt and explains their influence on absolutely everything that concerns this charismatic civilization.

Guardians of the Afterlife:

In the land of ancient Egyptian mythology, the afterlife was an important factor in people’s minds. Animals like the jackal, baboon, and falcon were considered protectors and guides of the dead to the next life.

It was Anubis, the jackal-headed god, who presided over the process of mummification and escorted the spirits of the dead into the afterlife. Baboons represented wisdom and protection and stood guard well in the supernatural sphere.

Deities and Sacred Animals

Animals were believed to manifest gods, the bearers of divine properties, and mediators between the world of mortals and the world of gods. The falcon-headed sun god Ra expressed the same sort of majesty to be found in those birds that cut across the Egyptian skies. Domesticated felines, especially, were tied to Bastet, the goddess of fertility, protection, and grace. Such was the regard for cats that it was a grave offense to harm them, and the punishment given to the offender was very serious.

Symbolism and Cultural Significance

Besides the use of animals for religious and mythological purposes, they played many symbolic roles in the day-to-day life of ancient Egyptians. For instance, the powerful and stately figure of the lion was symbolic of strength, courage, and royalty on thrones and emblems of pharaohs, while the ibis was a long-legged bird allied with the god Thoth, shown accompanying this god because of its association with wisdom, writing, and knowledge. Even the lowly dung beetle, more properly known as the scarab, was a deeply symbolic creature representing the cycle of rebirth and regeneration, thus serving as an effective metaphor for the eternity of life and death.

Domestic Animals in Ancient Egypt:

Animals also performed some practical functions, aside from their symbolic and religious uses, in the everyday life of ancient Egyptians. Dogs were considered to be faithful friends and protectors of the house, and found helpful on occasions of hunting. Cattle and oxen were quite useful for farming purposes and were used for labor in the fields, and their milk and meat served as a source of nutrition. Geese and ducks were reared for their eggs and meat to provide food for the people.

The importance of animals in ancient Egypt went way beyond the physical into every aspect of the civilization’s art, religion, and societal structure. Their roles as guardians, deities, symbols, and companions are a reflection of how the natural world interweaves in complex ways with the spiritual and cultural spheres.

It is in this way that the ancient Egyptians left to posterity their legacy with the great regard they attached to the animal kingdom. Such saliency in the influence of beasts upon the tapestry of humanity has continued to the present day.

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