Pets in Ancient Egypt
The Egyptians are known for their deep appreciation of pets and birds,
their gods were often given an animal form. But domestic animals, especially
cats, dogs or monkeys, were so valued that their life was luxurious and
sometimes they had their own burial and grave.
In the middle of the fifth century
B.C. a Greek historian , Herodotus, visited
Egypt. He noticed an unknown practice there , shaving
eyebrows, which was a common ritual to mourn the dead. This mark of honor,
surprisingly, was not for a dead person, but for a pet. Herodotus noticed many
pet household in Egypt and people’s affection towards them. He was startled that in homes
where a pet had died, the whole family have their heads and whole body.
This devotion to animals dates back
at least to the beginnings of the kingdom, when Egyptians had regularly painted
pictures of their pets on the walls of tombs or inscribed their names on
funerary stelae and sarcophagi. Egyptians believed that their dead pets would
accompany them into the afterlife so that’s why they created statues, reliefs
and paintings to commemorate them.
These images not only highlight the important
role of pets played in their daily life, but they also tell us a great deal
about the pets themselves. It has been possible to identify the specific breeds
of animals that lived along the Nile, the extent to which they were
domesticated, and even the veterinary practice with which they were treated.
The most popular pets in ancient Egypt were dogs, cat and monkeys.
For the Egyptians, dogs were great
friends and they accompanied in their houses and also during hunting. Egyptian artists painted dogs on the
most elegant tombs and the portraits were very detailed - body structure,
coloration and special features. There were hunting dogs, guard dogs, house
dogs, sheepdogs. Domesticated dogs enjoyed eating and sleeping with their masters.
Cats, were domesticated later than
dogs, because it was the time of Middle Kingdom. They were judged as efficient
hunters, killing smaller animals like snakes, mice and rats and other pets
found in the houses and gardens of Egypt. Soon cats became an integral part of
the household. Cats allowed their masters to collar them or tie eye-catching
ribbons around their necks. They dozed beneath the chairs of their feasting
owners. Later it was increasingly common to see cats represented on the walls
of tombs. Judging by the images, these little animals had become the favourite
pet of members of the royal family, Princess Sitamun or Prince Thutmose. The great pharaoh Amenhoteph
III ordered the construction of a magnificient stone sarcophagus with
splendid inscriptions for Tamit, his own beloved cat.
Monkeys and baboons were well
established as household pets. In tombs they are depicted climbing palms and
fig trees to helps collect the highest fruits.
Pets in ancient Egypt enjoyed a high level of care and a great deal of love. Most of them were strong boned
and had glossy fur, which suggests a balanced diet. Household animals were
considered worthy companions for the grave - they were mummified and placed in graves with their owners.
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