The Art of Ancient Egypt | Publications for Educators | Explore & Learn

Nowhere is the Egyptian artist's attention to natural detail more evident than in the depiction of animals, birds, and insects. As with other images of the natural world, animal images frequently were symbols associated with the afterlife.

Menna and his family hunting and fishing
In wall paintings and reliefs of hunting and fowling, species of animals are accurately portrayed in their environments, interacting in natural ways with other animals. On another level, the multitude of birds, fish, and aquatic life in the Nile symbolized nature's power of renewal, a cycle in which each Egyptian wished to participate. Notice details such as the eggs in the nest and the butterfly, symbols of birth and transformation.

Hippopotamus
The fierce, life-threatening animals of the Nile such as the hippopotamus and crocodile could symbolize chaos and evil. The Egyptians were ambivalent about these dangerous beasts who lived and multiplied along the banks of the Nile. In association with the abundance of the Nile and the fertility is supported, the hippopotamus and crocodile were symbols of rejuvenation and rebirth.

Drawing of a scarab
The Egyptians carefully observed the scarab beetle rolling balls of animal dung to its underground nest. They also noticed that newborn beetles seemed to appear spontaneously from such balls. They saw in these actions a metaphor for the rising sun and renewed life. The hieroglyph for scarab functioned as a verb as well, meaning "to rise up, evolve, or come into being." Scarab amulets, often found in burials, functioned largely as magical protection, but some also served as seals. Their flat undersides could be incised with one's name and title.
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