Title : Animals Mummified by the Millions in Ancient Egypt
link : Animals Mummified by the Millions in Ancient Egypt
Animals Mummified by the Millions in Ancient Egypt
Millions of animals were slaughtered ritually in ancient Egypt to foster a huge industry of mummification which even led to some extinct species.As an exhibition at the National Museum of the Smithsonian Institution History natural in Washington, DC shows, almost no animals escaped the massacre.
Although pets died of natural causes before mummification, and sacred beasts were spoiled by fans priests, most of the animals in the ancient Egypt had a miserable and short life
Many were bred to simply become votive mummies -.. offered to the gods in the same way that people light candles in churches today
"Several gods had different animals or avatars totems. the priests who kept temples for these different gods offered a service whereby people could have an animal associated mummified and placed in a catacomb in his name, "exhibition curator Melinda Zeder, director of the archeobiology program at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution, told Discovery News.
It began as early as 3000 BC, the practice reached its zenith around 650 BC to 200 AD.
"Literally millions of animals like dogs and cats were raised by the temple priests and mummified This practice spread to the wild animals as sacred and bright ibis and the baboon -. And may have contributed to the extinction of these animals in Egypt, "Zeder said.
The sacred ibis and baboons were mummified in the millions because they were sacred to Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing. Raptors they were associated with Horus, the falcon god, while cats were sacrificed to the goddess Bastet protective.
Kittens were the preferred option as it could fit into containers easily mummies.
researchers estimate that millions of mummies of cats occurred when mummification of animals was raging in Egypt.
in the late 1800s these mummies of cats are sold even for agricultural purposes. in fact, a company bought about 180,000 cat mummies, which weighs about 38,000 pounds. once pulverized, used to fertilize the fields of England.
Ibis and baboons were also very popular for mummification, so popular that became extinct. This resulted in a market of fake mummies, recently revealed by CT scans modern computerized.
While the aspect of ibis and baboons on the outside, these mummies were made instead of other animals.
some of the lucky animals were male pigs and hippos. So researchers know, no mummies of these animals.
"Pigs and hippos males are more closely associated with the god Seth. In recent periods of Egyptian history, when the mummification of animals was becoming more popular, Seth was so well regarded that other deities, "Salima Ikram, a professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, who helped launch rockets Smithsonian exhibit, told Discovery News.
An expert in animal mummies, Ikram is carrying out work to see how they could have been raised animals in ancient Egypt, farmed, maintained tended to and fed and sent in order to turn them into mummies.
the exhibition also features a mummy rare bull, with horns and eyes papier mache. Encounters between 300 BC and 400 AD, the history of the animal has more luck in Egypt.
identified as God incarnate, bulls were in fact they are considered gods themselves. Identified as Apis bulls were seen as the incarnation of the god Ptah and later of the god Osiris.
They received the most special treatments and lived in the lap of luxury, pampered with daily massages and filled with the best food until his death at the end of a long life rather (about 20 years).
"The original source of our bull is not clear and may not have been a real bull Apis. But we're pretty sure that was a servant animal revered by priests and then mummified after death, "Zeder said
Source:. discovery
"Animals Mummified by the Millions in Ancient Egypt", article source: riseearth.com
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