The earliest known depiction of a monkey in a tomb scene occurs in the FourthDynasty tomb of Nefermaat at Meidum. According to the artistic record, the green monkey was one of the favorite pets of the Ancient Egyptian elite. Representations of the species in this context are known from the Old Kingdom onwards. There are numerous depictions of monkeys seated under the chairs of their owners, who were usually women. Other examples show them on a leash attended by dwarfs or servants. These animals are often represented in such detail that specific breeds of monkeys have been identified, including, the green or long-tailed monkey (in figure), Barbary macaques and patas monkeys. One term for ‘monkey ’ was ‘ ky ’ , possibly another example of the onomatopoeic element within many animal names. Often depicted in playful poses, these animals are usually leashed and often provided with bowls of fruit to sustain them in the afterlife.Monkeys are found most often under the chairs of women, referencing female regeneration. Notes: a long-tailed monkey of any of several African subspecies of a guenon (Cercopithecus aethiops syn. Chloroebus aethiops) having greenish-appearing hair and often used in medical research — called also vervet (Vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus) CRANE During the Old Kingdom cranes, like a number of other animals and birds, were force-fed and sacrificed to the gods Cranes have been around since the Eocene, which ended 34 million years ago. They are among the world’s oldest living birds and one of the planet’s most successful life-forms, having outlasted millions of species (99 percent of species that ever existed are now extinct) Cranes, both demoiselle (Anthropoides virgo) and common (Grus grus) are mostly migratory birds. The common Crane passes through Egypt and occasionally also winters in the Delta. The smaller Demoiselle Crane migrates from southern Africa to the regions of the Black and Caspian Seas. Flock of herded Demoiselle cranes Tomb of Ty, Saqqara (M. A. Murray, Saqqara Mastabas, Egyptian Research Account XI, Plate IV) Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo; Anc.E.g. wDc splitter (??) Common Crane Grus grus; Anc.E.g.: D3.t the one stretching/reaching or borer
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 10:20:20 +0000
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