Michał Kaproń

Kultura Śródziemnomorska (II st.)

I rok

FIGURE OF DOGS IN ANCIENT

EGYPT

Ancient Egypt’s culture was closely related to its religious system full of complex
polytheistic beliefs. Specific elements of nature and spiritual life were associated with
particular deities. Figures of those deities were widely known by their manifestations,
however some of them existed in many different manifestations, or the very same
manifestations had multiple features (all of which were diversified according to their
chronological or geographical distributions)1. Manifestations of different deities were mostly
animalized, but they could have been an items, elements of nature or just simple symbols as
well. Just to recall one of examples - god of knowledge Thoth was presented as a baboon or
as a man with the head of an ibis or as an ibis itself, simultaneously with depictions like scroll
of papirus or a moon disc2.

For Ancient Egyptians some animals representing deities, were considered as a more
important or even sacred – just to mention cats or scarebs. In contrary to those considered
filthy, for instance pigs or some species of fishes or raptiles, and that difference was certainly
not in a favour of those last ones. However, quite significant seems to be an exaple of dogs
and dog-a-like creatures. Although widely worshiped (like jackal – manifestation of god of
death Anubis), sometimes their figures were neutral or even despised and contact with
some of them was forbidden (for example before some religious ceremonies). In this work I
would like to study particular examples of their figures.

1
Wilkinson, R., The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, London 2003, p. 30, 32.
2
Budge, E. A., The Gods of the Egyptians, Vol. 1, New York 1969, p. 101.
Jackals

As mentioned before, jackals were worshiped as a manifestation of god of death and

funerals, protector of the dead and embalming, Anubis. Not only jackals, as Egyptians
identified other dogs with this god as well, however the connection between such deity and
particularly that animal emerges from jackals’ habits observed by the people – those animals
often dug out corpses from their graves on remote, desert cemeteries. Characteristics of
their figures with black or dark coat were interpreted as the color of mummified human
body and the fertile soil, both of which were considered as symbols of resurrection 3. Figure
of jackal was used in symbolic meaning on religious purposes of funerals and all its features.
Jackal gained somewhat magical attributes that way, was considered as a connector with
underworld, therefore he was very respected. His figure was present in graves and tombs, as
well as just a iconic presentation in funerary texts or as a palatial sculptures like this example
from the tomb of Tutankhamun:

3
Wilkinson, R., The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, London 2003, p. 28, 187-189.
Domestic dogs

Ancient Egyptians domesticated many different animals, some sources say about such exotic
examples like domesticated lions or baboons. However, group of most useful domestic
animals, besides cattle, consisted several specially trained and well adjusted breeds of dogs.
One of which was Tesem dog used for hunting (his name in ancient egypitan literally means
„hunting dog”). Little is known about him, but most of characteristics describe his long legs,
prick ears and curly tail, making him quite similiar to the present day hound. Practical use of
them is showed on this stone relief for instance:

They already were popular at the time of very old Fourth Dynasty, as one of the depictions of
Tesem dog is from the tomb of Khufu who reigned between 2609 - 2584 BC. We know only
that the name of depicted dog was Akbaru and he was wearing a collar, but those details
(followed by their localization in king’s tomb) tells us something about level of respect that
those dogs may reached among Ancient Egyptians. In fact, loads of the royal burial grounds
from Old Period contain the graves of dogs, mumified in the same way and with the same
pietism as women and servants of the pharaoh 4. Perhaps hunting dog was placed in a royal
tomb to assist its owner also in the afterlife huntings. Interesting is also a fact that, from all
the other domestic animals, names were given almost exclusively to the dogs. Those names
were often simply describing their character such as: Brave One, Reliable, or Good
Herdsman. But there were also bad titles in use, for instance: Lazy One or Useless. Despite
big affection towards dogs, Egyptian created bad connotations to them by using description
of low-level servants as someone’s „dogs”. It stands a bit in contrary with the other forms of
showing dogs respect by the Ancient Egyptians.

4
Spence, L., Myths & Legends of Ancient Egypt, Rockville 2008, p. 23.
As Tesem dogs were destinated to help their owners during the hunting, there were also
other breeds for other purposes. Those were the guardian dogs, police dogs, dogs used in
military actions or those simply kept as household pet for decoration.

Dogs in literature

Part of rich Egyptian’s cultural heritage are popular epic stories, some of which have been
preserved to date. One of them, written circa 1200 BC and entitled The Doomed Prince,
consist a very representative dog figure, a friend of main character. The story is about a
prince, whose destiny was predicted at birth by oracle’s words: „he shall die by the
crocodile, or by the serpent or indeed by the dog”5. His father, when the prince was older,
gave him a beautiful hound for protection and weapons and let him to go and encounter his
fatal destiny. Prince loved his dog and together they travelled for a long time and had many
adventures, till one day he finally arrived in country of Naharinna where he found a wife and
safe place to live. Then the dangers from prophecy started to appear, but luckily the prince
avoided death from the crocodile and the serpent with the help of his wife. Despite her
advice to kill also the dog for safety, he refused as he loved him too much. But one day the
country was invaded and the prince with his wife and hound went to a cave to hid from
enemy soldiers. But in the crucial moment the dog went out and began to bark. The soldiers
recognized him, entered the cave and killed them all6.

The Doomed Prince, despite its moral and historical dimension, tells us the story of close
connection between man and dog. At the same time we see the strong tie to the pet, dog’s
role in culture of Ancient Egypt and good and bad characteristics of his figure as well. Similiar
stories which include depiction of animal influence on man’s fate are typical for ancient
times, not only in Egypt, but much wider, just to mention Epic of Gilgamesh.

5
Maspero G., Popular Stories of Ancient Egypt, London 1915, p. 186.
6
Maspero G., Popular Stories of Ancient Egypt, London 1915, p. 185-195.
Dog amulets

Figures of dogs have had special meaning in magic items such as amulets, however they
changed in time. In the Late Old Kingdom and early First Intermediate Period figures of dogs,
made of bone, ivory or even more expensive materials, were typical feature in graves and
tombs. Details of those figures varied, depending on „magical power” they were ment to
provide. For example figures representing hound-a-like dogs are considered as amulets
giving his owner swiftness needed to avoid dangers during his journey trough the
underworld. On the other hand there were amulets of dogs standing firmly and looking
aside, meaning that they were providing extra protection for the deceased, playing a role of
guard or defender7. Dog amulets were used also on a daily basis. Together with the amulets
in shape of a head of other dangerous animals such as panther or lioness, their magical
characteristic was based on principle of protection by aversion8 - they were ment to
„frighten” eventual misfortunes.

Although those amulet figures were very popular in the early ages, it is worth to set down,
that since the Graeco-Roman Period this custom shrunk drastically.

7
Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London 1994, p. 62.
8
Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London 1994, p. 9.
 Figure of dogs in Ancient Egypt had multiple roles. They were inevitable part of
religious, cultural and everyday life. As a manifestation of deities they had a special status,
playing a very important part in the sacred rituals and customs. For believers they had a
peculiar force which could be caring and protective as much as sinister or even dangerous at
the same time. For their owners they were grand partners and important part of their
activities. It would’t be an exxageration to say that dogs have strong influence on a basic
shape of Ancient Egypt’s heritage as we have learned to date. Despite impoverishment
within changing timespan, symbolism of dog’s figure remained very broad.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Andrews Colin, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London 1994.

2. Baines John, Visual & Written Culture in Ancient Egypt, New York 2007.
3. Budge Ernest Alfred, The Gods of the Egyptians, New York 1969.
4. Christensen Wendy, Empire of Ancient Egypt, New York 2005.
5. Maspero Gaston, Popular Stories of Ancient Egypt, London 1915.
6. Sayce Archibald Henry, The Religions of Ancient Egypt and Babilonia, Edinburgh
1903.
7. Spence Lewis, Myths & Legends of Ancient Egypt, Rockville 2008.
8. Watts Edith, The Art of Ancient Egypt: A Recource for Educators, New York 1998.
9. Wilkinson Richard, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, London
2003.
10. Wilkinson Toby, The Rise And Fall of Ancient Egypt, New York 2010.