| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | to their pets, that upon the pet's passing, they would |
| To the ancient Egyptians, animals were created by the | | | | often carry out the same rites and rituals as they |
| gods and given rights equal to that of mankind. They | | | | would for any other family member. Pets and sacred |
| saw animals not as their subjects, but rather as | | | | animals were mummified and put in special cemeteries. |
| independent beings, and treated them with respect. [A] | | | | Animals that belonged to the Pharaoh's royal family |
| The Nile served as a source of food and was the | | | | were mummified and buried with them so they could |
| most important factor to the agriculture of the region. | | | | continue in the afterlife together. The following |
| Fish were plentiful and could be eaten roasted, boiled, | | | | inscription for a well-loved dog was found in a tomb |
| salted, preserved, or simply dried in the sun. Because | | | | dating from the 5th or 6th dynasty: |
| the Nile would flood annually, it revitalized the land with | | | | "The dog which was the guard of His Majesty. |
| water and fertile silt, enriching the soil to grow wheat, | | | | Abuwtiyuw is his name. His Majesty ordered that he |
| fruits, and vegetables. Additionally, it provided thick | | | | be buried, that he be given a coffin from the royal |
| grasses on which animals would graze. | | | | treasury, fine linen in great quantity, incense. His |
| The people of ancient Egypt were mainly pescarian, | | | | Majesty gave perfumed ointment and [ordered] that a |
| meaning they would often eat fish. The Nile supplied | | | | tomb be built for him by the gang of masons. His |
| many types of fish, including: catfish, mullet, tilapia, | | | | Majesty did this for him in order that he might be |
| sturgeon, eel, carp, and perch, which were all an | | | | honored". [1] |
| important source of nourishment. Along the Nile, there | | | | For many years, animal mummies have been |
| were restrictions on the types of fish that could be | | | | overlooked while research went on regarding human |
| eaten because of their connections with the gods. The | | | | mummies and other treasures found in the tombs. The |
| Pharaoh and other priests would abstain from eating | | | | study of this previously neglected area of Egyptology |
| fish altogether because it was forbidden by one of | | | | has finally changed, thanks to the work of Dr. Salima |
| their deities as a food reserved for peasants. | | | | Ikram, one of the leading experts in Egyptian funerary |
| Bread was their main staple, made from wheat and | | | | archaeology. Dr. Ikram is the founder and co-director |
| barley. From time to time, they supplemented their diet | | | | of the Animal Mummy Project at the Cairo Museum. |
| with antelope, which they hunted. Occasionally they ate | | | | This project has shed new light on the past, revealing |
| pork and goat, which were raised on farms. | | | | the techniques of mummification and the reasons for it. |
| The Egyptians also raised sheep, cattle, geese and | | | | Regarding the latter, Dr. Ikram tells us four reasons |
| ducks. These animals not only provided them with | | | | why animals were mummified. |
| food, drink, leather and skins, but also helped with their | | | | 1. They were mummified because they were sacred. |
| daily lives. Oxen and cattle were used for plowing the | | | | 2. They were mummified to please the animal deities |
| fields, and other animals were used for trampling | | | | (i.e. as offerings to the gods). |
| seeds into the soil, and eating unwanted grain. | | | | 3. The ancient Egyptians believed that the afterlife |
| Birds were of extreme importance to the ancient | | | | included animals. Therefore, they wanted their pets to |
| Egyptians as well. Along the Nile, the bird-life included | | | | continue with them in the afterlife. |
| the falcon, kite, goose, crane, heron, pigeon, ibis, vulture | | | | 4. A certain number of animals were mummified in |
| and owl. Numerous birds were actually kept in sacred | | | | order to provide food for eternity. |
| flocks and some were elevated in status to become | | | | These ancient tombs are time capsules filled with |
| temple animals. From the vast collection of ancient | | | | ancient treasures, many of which we are still |
| Egyptian artwork, evidence exists of several species | | | | deciphering and trying to understand. Some of the |
| of birds that are now extinct. | | | | tomb findings have been items made of animal |
| Beekeeping began in Egypt around 2500 BC in the | | | | products, which were used in many ways. Bone was |
| Fifth Dynasty. Egyptians loved honey and they would | | | | plentiful and the ancient Egyptians fashioned it into |
| take great pains to cultivate it. They not only kept | | | | jewelry and arrowheads. Glue was made from animal |
| bees, but they also actively went out and searched for | | | | hide and from sinews. Feathers were used as |
| the honey of wild bees. They would use bee wax for | | | | ornaments. Twisted animal gut and sinews were used |
| embalming, offerings to the gods, medicines, makeup, | | | | in the making of stringed instruments. Ivory usually |
| and as a bonding agent. They named the honeybee | | | | came from Nile hippos and were used for carving |
| after the bull-like god named Apis because they | | | | combs and jewelry. |
| believed it had similar characteristics. (The historian | | | | Egyptian burials often included sculpted clay and |
| Herodotus described this bull as being black, with a | | | | carved wooden figures, tools, and utensils in hopes |
| white diamond on its forehead and two white hairs on | | | | they would service the dead in the afterlife. These |
| its tail.) | | | | were often part of a larger diorama or miniature |
| Horses were introduced much later into Egyptian | | | | three-dimensional scene. Because so many of these |
| society — around 1500 BC. They were a status | | | | elaborate models have been found in the tombs of the |
| symbol for the owners and were mainly used to carry | | | | royal families, we've learned a great deal about the |
| chariots into battle and for ceremonial occasions. | | | | customs of these people. For example, there are |
| Horses were rarely ridden and if so, only by royalty. | | | | miniature models of butcher shops, scenes of counting |
| They were well cared for and given individual names. | | | | and inspecting cattle, and scenes of plowing the fields. |
| Donkeys were the main beasts of burden. They were | | | | There are wonderfully detailed wall paintings and reliefs |
| used as pack animals and for carrying heavy bundles | | | | decorating the tombs, giving us further information |
| of grain from the field to the threshing floor. Female | | | | about daily life in Ancient Egypt. It is interesting to note |
| donkeys, which produced higher-protein and sweeter | | | | that much of this remained hidden for 4,000 to 5,000 |
| milk than cows, were kept as dairy animals. | | | | years. |
| Hunting was seen as a symbol of mastery over | | | | As Robert Fulford has written, "...Because the tombs |
| animal forces. Egyptians believed it was their role to | | | | were hidden so well, many of them remained intact |
| conquer the land. Dogs, resembling greyhounds, would | | | | until about 200 years ago, when the modern world |
| help them while hunting. There is evidence from the | | | | began discovering them and prying them open, one |
| tomb paintings that the ancient Egyptians sometimes | | | | after another, in wonderment and excitement and |
| took along cheetahs they had tamed. | | | | gratitude. And so our own civilization, through the |
| The hunters knew their animals well. They studied their | | | | collaboration of grave-robbers, scholars and art lovers, |
| characteristics, including their diet and mating habits. | | | | has come to know far more about Egypt than would |
| This knowledge brought about a great respect for the | | | | otherwise be possible". [2] |
| animals and aided them in the hunt. Oftentimes, they | | | | _____ [A] [B] [C] |
| would hunt great cats, which were not always killed. | | | | [1] Giza Digital Library: Giza Bibliography of George A. |
| [C] Smaller jungle mammals and wild cats, such as the | | | | Reisner (1867-1942) Reisner, George A. "The Dog |
| cheetah, were often kept as family pets. Ramses the | | | | Which was Honored by the King of Upper and Lower |
| Great is said to have had a pet lion. | | | | Egypt." Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 34, |
| Dog, cats, monkeys, and birds were also a part of the | | | | No. 206 (December 1936), pp. 96-99. |
| nuclear family. So devoted were these ancient people | | | | |