The Animal World of the Pharaohs

Animals of all kinds were hugely important to the ancient Egyptians, in their daily lives and work, in their leisure and religious practices. Some animals served as sources of food, others provided labour in the farmyards and field, some were quarry in the hunt, others were companions at home, and a great many enjoyed vital associations with the gods and goddesses of the Egyptian pantheon. This title examines all aspects of the relationship between people and animals in art and hieroglyphs. It draws not only on the extremely rich pictorial record, but also on evidence from textual references, mummified animals, food offerings placed in burials and bone remains recovered from settlement sites.