The Animals of Ancient Egypt

A beautifully illustrated full-color guide to more than 60 wildlife species recorded in modern Egypt and also portrayed in ancient Egypt, by two leading experts in their fields

Illustrated with contemporary photographs and tomb carvings or paintings, this fascinating book provides a simultaneous guide to some 60 species of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, and invertebrate recorded in modern Egypt and also portrayed in tombs and temples or as mummies and gods in ancient Egypt—or even earlier in the case of the cave art from the Gilf el-Kebir.

• Each species is described in terms of its current characteristics (size, habits and habitats, and range in modern Egypt) and the animal’s relevance and religious and practical significance in ancient Egypt
• Provides information about where the animal portrayed may be viewed in Egypt’s tombs and temples
• Relevant gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt are listed and described
• The introduction covers biogeography, ancient Egypt and its wildlife, modern developments, a chronology of ancient Egypt, and a glossary

The Authors:

Richard Hoath is a leading naturalist based in Egypt, who has travelled extensively throughout the Middle East. He is the author and illustrator of A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt (paperback edition, 2009), and many other books and articles on the wildlife of the region. He is a founder member of, and serves on, the Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee, is a longtime member of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) and is currently on the faculty of the American University in Cairo.

Salima Ikram is Distinguished University Professor at the American University in Cairo and has excavated in Egypt for more than 30 years. Her specialities include animals in ancient Egypt, mummification, ancient Egyptian food and drink, rock art, and the preservation and presentation of cultural heritage. She has directed the Animal Mummy Project at the Egyptian Museum (Cairo), the Amenmesse Mission KV10 and KV63, and the North Kharga Oasis Darb Ain Amur Survey. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Fellow of the British Academy, she has published extensively for adults and children on a variety of topics.