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This small-format book is basically a guide is to the wild animals of ancient Egypt. The brief introduction to ancient Egypt’s geography and climate is beautifully written – very concise but almost poetic, a harbinger of what follows.
The format involves two-page spreads. The left page contains a modern photograph of the animal in question, along with its Latin name, size, habitat, and importance. On the right-facing page we are shown the animal as it was depicted in ancient Egypt – in a temple or tomb relief or on a slate palette. Both pages are peppered with interesting facts. Who knew that the last sighting of the sacred ibis in Egypt was in 1891?
Birds featured prominently in hieroglyphic writing, with three used as alphabetic hieroglyphs: the owl, vulture, and quail chick. So it is not surprising that the largest section of the book is about birds. Birdwatchers will love this section, because it includes information about where to see the different species today. Want to see the Egyptian vulture? The best place is Ain Sukhna where, during the spring, the birds are seen riding thet hermals. We also learn that the vulture is one of the few birds to use tools – dropping stones repeatedly on to ostrich eggs until the shells break. The best place to see owls is on the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, where they breed. As they are nocturnal, most tourists do not notice them.
I have only two small issues. The photo of the tomb showing bats is of very poor quality and it will take all the reader’s imagination to actually see a bat. I was also sorry not to find the snake hieroglyph dj in the book. It is so common, it should be there. Still, this is a wonderful addition to the must have books for the interested tourist visiting Egypt. This Egyptologist learned quite a bit.
REVIEW BY BOB BRIER
The Animals of Ancient Egypt: Then and Now
by Richard Hoath and Salima Ikram
American University in Cairo, 2026
ISBN 978-1-6490-3350-5
Paperback, £14.99
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