It’s difficult to completely understand ancient Egyptian culture and customs, especially mummification. It is believed that mummification’s main purpose was to preserve the body of the individual, and that it could have been considered an honor. But humans weren’t the only ones that were mummified.
Animal Mummies
In certain burial sites in Egypt, animal cemeteries have been found containing millions of mummies. With the practice seemingly adopted for animals as well, we’ll look into some of the coolest and most interesting animal mummies uncovered.
Crocodile Mummies
Ancient Egyptians would have had conflicts with the local population of crocodiles, but it’s recently been discovered that they hunted the animals before mummifying them. It is believed that they sacrificed masses of the animal to the Lord of Crocodiles – Sobek.
Baboons
A number of baboons have also been found in the Temple of Khons, Karnak, Egypt. Some are completely covered in linen bandages, which have survived to the modern day. Other specimens aren’t as well preserved, with parts of the baboons exposed.
Apis Bull
The Apis Bull was thought to help ancient Egyptians establish a connection with two of their deities – Osiris and Ptah. The animal was well looked after in a temple before it was ultimately mummified after living for 28 years. It died a natural death.
Scarab Beetles
Scarab beetles were an important symbol in Egyptian culture, and they represented resurrection. Mummified scarabs were found in sarcophaguses and are an important discovery because of how rare the find is.
A Gazelle
A Gazelle’s mummified remains were found in quite a special place. The animal was buried with what we can assume was its owner. They were given the royal treatment, wrapped in blue linen, and put in a handcrafted casket. It was thought that the Gazelle was a pet of royalty.
Dogs
Millions of dogs have been found mummified in Egypt, but one seems to have been treated a bit better than the rest. The dog is thought to have belonged to a pharaoh and was their hunting dog and companion in life. They were no doubt given only the best treatment until they passed away and were mummified.
Lions
Lions were respected a great deal by ancient Egyptians. They were seen as a symbol of kingship, and to prove themselves capable, individuals would go on hunting parties to take them down before mummifying them. The Sphinx – a powerful symbol of Egypt, had the body of a lion.
Cats
Many important deities in Egyptian culture were depicted with feline-like features. Egyptian people had a small obsession with animals, and they believed that cats were vessels that their deities could inhabit. Cats were often mummified in bronze or wooden sarcophagi.
Birds
Egyptians even mummified birds. An important icon in their culture was the Bennu Bird, which represented rebirth and life. Horus was depicted as a falcon and was a sun god and also represented each living king. Mummified falcons have been found with bronze headpieces.
Cobras
Wadjet was the Egyptian goddess of snakes and was symbolized by the Ureas, an image of a cobra raising its body in an upright position. The Ureas symbolized authority, royalty, and divinity. Cobras were sacrificed and mummified in ancient Egypt.
Fish
Hatmehit was the goddess of the Nile river and fish. She was either depicted as a fish or as a woman with a symbol of a fish on her. Many sites throughout the Nile were considered important, and pilgrims would travel through them with offerings. Mummified perch from the Nile have been found wrapped in linen and could have been an offering to the dogs.
Source:
13 of the Coolest (and Creepiest!) Egyptian Animal Mummies
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