The importance of animals in the beliefs of ancient communities

The relationship between man and the animal kingdom has remained so complicated since the dawn of time.

The animals we see today have been around for millennia, playing key roles both in the food chain and in the most famous of ancient civilizations.

The animal was sacred in the eyes of the Egyptians, but was a scapegoat in the ancient Mayan culture. In Rome, animals played the role of gladiators, swarming in blood and iron amid the cheers of the Roman people. According to researchers, wild animals have been respected, exploited, hunted and become decorative objects since the day people discovered fire.

In this article, animals will be depicted through the eyes of people of ancient cultures, with data obtained through the curious eyes of archaeologists.

The Prudhoe Lion, also known as the Soleb Lion, is one of two red granite lion statues located in front of the entrance to Soleb Temple in Nubia. The statue is currently on display at the British Museum.

In Ancient Egypt

People living along the banks of the Nile consider wildlife to be 'mighty forces of nature', many of which are believed to have a direct connection with the divine. That is the opinion of Salima Ikram, professor of Egyptology at American University, Cairo.

'They are considered mediators between humans and gods, and represent a force of chaos that needs to be tamed and controlled, so that [natural] order and the universe can continue to exist,' he said. Ikram said.

In addition to her role as a guardian of the rulers, the goddess Bastes also represented the ability to conceive and give birth in ancient Egyptian beliefs.

Around 4000 BC, when the Egyptian civilization was still in its infancy, many wild animals (which would later migrate to Central and South Africa) flourished around the Nile Delta. This ancient Egyptian civilization hunted animals, but they knew the importance of conservation so over-hunting did not take place. There were even animals that held a high position in human society at that time.

For example, the Egyptians considered the lion 'the embodiment of the sun god Ra', as well as a symbol of royalty. In their eyes, the male hippo is an animal that symbolizes chaos, and also represents the god of war Set. Meanwhile, the female hippo is the embodiment of the goddess Taweret, the protector of mothers and children.

According to Mr. Ikram, giraffes rarely appear in Egyptian mythology, but the character representing the concept of 'giraffe' means 'foretell': they believe that the long neck helped the deer. able to see far into the future. Although baboons are not native to Egypt, they still have a role in the beliefs of the people who live on the Nile.

'Baboons wake up and stretch at sunrise, and they have red rumps, so to the ancient Egyptians they were sacred creatures to the sun god,' Mr Ikram said of early-rising primates. welcome sunny.

In the ancient Teotihuacan civilizations

A study published in 2018 in the journal PLOS ONE found that the Mayans often used animals for 'symbol or ritual purposes'. From AD 1 to 550, the Mayans used black panthers, jaguars, owls, pink spoonbills and crocodiles in ritual sacrifices, and they also represented the privileges of certain classes. in the ancient Teotihuacan culture (including the cultures of many regions, most famously the Maya, Mixtec, and Zapotec; possibly dating back to 400 BC).

Statue of Kukulcan, the god attached to his body covered with feathers is the creator in the culture of the Central American people. Kukulcan is also an entity that gives wind and rain to mortals.

Atop the pyramids, the ancient Mayans sacrificed creatures high up the food chain, while deer and crocodiles were heavily used in sacred burial rituals by priests (shamans). ) command. Even the ancient Mayans buried animals with the deceased for the purpose of preparing food for the next life.

According to the report's authors, 'jaguars and black panthers in the once-Mayan region of Copan show evidence of both captivity and an extensive barter system, the animal trade. Meat eating has a ritual significance that is widespread throughout Mesoamerica'.

Ancient Roman

In the eyes of the ancient Romans, wildlife was always a sight to behold. From the beginning of the period of the Roman Republic, elephants entered human life, and gradually became important creatures at the end of the period of the Roman Republic, when Julius Caesar took power.

Around 509 BC, the ancient Romans held a parade honoring the dead with tigers, leopards, lions, and crocodiles. When brought back to the arena, the fierce animals will become part of the survival show.

In addition to the face-to-face battles between humans, the "venatio" entertainment - hunting wild animals is an event that is warmly welcomed by the people. No one stands to guarantee the lives of those who dare to go to the venatio. In the photo, a medallion depicts a hunter confronting wild beasts in the arena.

Contemporary animal traffickers traveled as far as Africa to capture wild animals, history records nearly 9,000 wild animals were brought back to Rome during the reign of emperor Titus (circa 79 AD). original). According to research published in the journal Greece and Rome, the wildlife trade in the late Roman Republic became more or less a thriving industry, as much of the community enjoyed gladiatorial displays. wild in the famous arena.

In the words of the study authors, just as fighting became an indispensable pastime, 'organization of animal hunting [.] was formalized in the late period of the Republic, the provision of animals [for the arena] becomes the responsibility of local officials'. Historical records show that Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix received 100 recreational lions from King Bocchus of Mauretania (present-day Algeria).

Early attention to the world around them, people soon associated the mighty creatures of the wild world with invisible spiritual forces. From Africa, Europe to distant America, the kingdoms of man and animals have survived together since the dawn of time, and have earned a certain amount of respect.

Worshiping their beauty, or using animals in important rituals, the complex relationship between humans and animals has been around for a long time, and will probably last as long as life exists.