Welcome to Ancient Egyptian Animal Guide 101, where creatures were revered as guides and symbols of divine power, reflecting the human connection to nature and the gods.
In Ancient Egypt and many other ancient cultures, animals held significant importance, often viewed through an animistic lens where every element of nature was believed to have a spiritual essence. People thought that all creatures in nature existed to serve humans, yet they also recognized that animals, who lived more harmoniously with the natural world than humans, displayed behaviors with spiritual significance. This belief led our ancestors to see animals as guides and mediators between the human and spiritual worlds. By observing them, they not only learned about the rhythms of life but also respected and revered these animals for their connection to the divine forces of nature.
Of course, animals have certain characteristics according to their nature and species. When we talk about a monkey, we can mention its intelligence; once trained, a monkey can even hold a spoon. On the other hand, a lion certainly cannot hold a spoon. However, when we look at a lion, we see the king of the jungle and one of the most feared animals among all. The masters of associating these characteristics with animals and connecting animals with gods were, of course, the best thing that Ancient Egyptians do.
Cats: Egypt’s Divine Felines
The cat is actually one of the most important among the deified animals. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Egypt was heaven for cats! Cause in Ancient Egypt, the punishment for killing a cat was clear: execution.
Let’s not forget that there were many rats in Ancient Egypt. This is still the case today, and the reason is the abundance of agriculture in there. The wheat and barley that come with agriculture act as a magnet for rats. For this reason, they kept cats in every household. It was also believed that cats brought good luck, joy, and positive energy to the home. Today, it has been scientifically proven that this is true. Another proof that ancient people were wiser than us in some matters!
Bastet’s Legacy
The Goddess Bastet is an incredibly beautiful goddess and is symbolized by a cat. When we look at her statues, we see the body of a beautiful woman with the head of a charming black cat. Bastet, the chief goddess of the joy-bringing cats, is the goddess of dance, joy, and music.
Goddess Bastet is also the daughter of Ra. Initially, she was a very grumpy, somewhat wild cat. At some point, she falls out with her father and goes far away to the southern regions, to other lands. Time passes, the father misses his daughter, and the daughter misses her father. In the end, Bastet returns to Egypt, having transformed into a very gentle creature. In other words, she has been domesticated.
The Ancient Egyptians held cats in such high regard that their sacred love for them even caused them to lose a war. When the Persian army invaded Egypt in 525 BC, Cambyses, the leader of the Persian army, ordered his soldiers to gather all the cats they saw along the way and put them in sacks. When they reached the gates of Egypt, Cambyses ordered the cats to be released from the sacks, and the entire army held their swords to the cats. The Egyptian army immediately laid down their weapons and surrendered to avoid harming the cats.
According to the Sicilian Diodorus, a cat cost the lives of two Romans. According to Diodorus, at a time when the Romans had just entered Alexandria, a black cat appeared in front of two Roman soldiers. The soldiers killed the cat with a kick. The entire neighborhood attacked and lynched the Roman soldiers. As we said, the punishment for harming a cat was clear for the Ancient Egyptians (1).
Scarab: Egypt’s Holy Insect
The sacred Egyptian beetle, known as Scarabaeus scarabaeidae, is a remarkable insect species that has spread almost everywhere in the world except for cold climates. This species can be found living in deserts, in Anatolia, and even in places like Tanzania and Kenya. While it may seem curious that an insect was considered sacred in Ancient Egypt, the Scarab actually symbolizes life. To understand why, one only needs to look at the life cycle of the Scarab.
When the Scarab awakens from hibernation, it emerges from beneath the earth, exposing itself to the sun. Every day, it comes out, basks in the sunlight, and feeds on dung. After this 10-15 day process of coming to life, the female and male Scarabs find each other. Before mating, the female collects soft soil and forms it into a small ball. She carries this ball with her every day, growing it with mud. When the time comes, she attaches her eggs to this massive mud ball. The mother beetle continues to cover the ball with mud, bringing it out every day to keep it warm in the sun. She uses the sun and earth to create the incubation environment she cannot provide herself, doing so with her own hands and effort—much like a human.
The Circle of Life
For the ancient Egyptians, the life cycle of the Scarab symbolized life itself. That made it sacred. Hence, it frequently appears in statues, tomb walls, and papyri. Contrary to what is shown in movies like The Mummy, they do not eat people.
In many Egyptian kings’ tombs, you will see the Scarab either on the left or right side. Between its legs is the sun, the symbol of life. The Egyptians mummified the Scarab just as they did with many other animals. Many Scarab mummies have been found in Egypt, with tiny coffins made of stone or wood.
Hawk: Protector of Egypt
The hawk also appears as a significant animal in cultures. However, its place in Ancient Egypt is particularly special. We often see the famous Hawk God Ra or Horus in statues, carvings, and on tomb walls.
In fact, the origin of Horus traces back to the Goddess Isis and the God Osiris. Isis is the goddess of beauty, fertility, and magic. Horus is the son of this goddess and her beloved husband, Osiris. According to ancient beliefs, Horus is the protector god of Egypt. He rises from the east like the sun, showers all of Egypt with blessings, and offers sunlight to the people. Agriculture begins to thrive with his presence. Another of his roles is to serve as a guardian, protecting all of Egypt from evil and enemies. He flies across the Nile Valley from one end to the other, safeguarding the entire land.
Eye of Horus: Symbol of Protection
The greatest enemy of the hawk god Horus’s father, Osiris, is Set, who is also his brother. In Egyptian mythology, Set is equated with the devil; he embodies pure evil. The story of these two is the Egyptian version of the age-old battle between good and evil, light and darkness.
Horus engages in a great battle with his uncle to avenge his father, Osiris, who was dismembered by Set. In this battle, Horus defeats his uncle and banishes him to the underworld. However, he loses one of his eyes. This eye is known as the protective Eye of Horus and is frequently seen on tomb walls, carvings, papyri, and coffins in Egypt. The Eye of Horus is one of the earliest examples of protective symbols, similar to the evil eye talisman.
Anubis: Guardian of Egyptian Tombs
Yes, it looks like a dog, but it’s actually a jackal. In Ancient Egyptian mythology and belief, the protector god of cemeteries, graves, the dead, mummies, and coffins has always been depicted as a jackal.
The jackal is a nocturnal animal, meaning it is active at night. You don’t often see jackals during the day; it’s very rare. They come out at night, hunting in the darkness. They are frequently seen near cemeteries, which is why they have been associated with graves. In Ancient Egyptian belief, the jackal was thought to protect all mummies. The Jackal God Anubis was also believed to guard the graves and mummies to prevent any harm from befalling them.
In Ancient Egypt, robbers and looters always feared and showed respect to the Jackal God. Because of this, Anubis holds a very important place. He is also depicted as the sacred and loyal dog of Osiris. Osiris is the protector of the otherworld, specifically the gardens of the ancient Egyptian paradise known as the Fields of Yalu. In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that everyone would be awaited in paradise by Osiris after death. In these depictions, we can see Anubis as the loyal dog or companion of Osiris.
