animals before classical antiquity

Animals in Art and CultureBefore Classical Antiquity

Paleolithic Cave Paintings and Carvings

Chauvet Caves(33,000-26,000 BP)

Le Roc de Sers(c. 19,000 BP)

Lascaux Caves(c. 15,000-10,000 BP)

Peter Lund Studies Cave Art in Lagoa Santa, Brazil (c. 12,000 BP)

Totemism

Raven Flood Totem

Kajuk Bird, Eagle and Wolf

Animals in Ancient Egypt

Funerary Models

Cattle, c. 3000 BCE

Oxen, c. 2000 BCE

Birthing Cow, c. 2000 BCE

Bulls

Bulls Fighting, 13th-11th c. BCE

Bull Amulet, 13th-11th c. BCE

Apis, 7th-4th c. BCE

Tomb of Nebamun, ThebesWall Painting, 1350 BCE

Cobra Amulet, 14th c. BCE

Egyptian Gods

Apis, Sun Disk, and Uraeus, 6th c. BCE

Horus as Crowned Falcon, 7th c. BCE

Uraeus and Vulture (Wadjet and Nekhbet), 1st c. BCE

Hathor with Sun Disk and Wadjet or Horus Eye, c. 1300

BCE

Hathor, c. 1450 BCE

Hathor, c. 16th-13th c. BCE

Thoth as Baboon, c. 1400 BCE

Thoth with Wadjet or Horus Eye, c. 664-332 BCE

Thoth as Ibis, 6th-5th c. BCE

Thoth Worshiped, c. 330 BCE

Thoth, 664-332 BCE

Bastet as Cat, 663-525 BCE

Bastet Amulet, 11th c. BCE

Bastet Amulet, 3rd-2nd c. BCE

Bastet

Sarcophagus of Prince Thutmose’s Cat, 14th c. BCE

Cat Mummy and Sarcophagos, 305 BCE

Cat Mummy Mask

Tawaret, 7th-4th c. BCE

Compare: Greek Gods

Zeus with an Eagle, c. 560 BCE

Zeus and Eagle, c. 300 BCE

Athena with a Snake and Cocks, c. 500 BCE

Athena with an Owl, c. 450 BCE

Aphrodite with a Swan or Goose, c. 460 BCE

Demeter Worshiper with a Piglet, c. 400-350 BCE

Egyptian Dogs

Dog, 2033-1710 BCE

Dog, 20th c. BCE

Dog Under Master’s Chair, 15th c. BCE

Dog Toy

Game Piece

Kohl Spoon

Minoan Crete

Bull Leaping

Minoan Bull Leaper, c. 2100 BCE

Seal, c. 1700 BCE

Bull Leaping Fresco, 1600-1450 BCE

Bull Leaper, 1550-1450 BCE

Ivory Bull Leaper

Seal: Bulls Reclining: 17th c. BCE

Seal, 16th c. BCE

Bull’s Head Vase, 15th c. BCE

Bull Sculpture

Bull Head Sculpture

Sacrifical Labrys

Ancient Near EasternCylinder Seals

Hero Wrestling Water Buffalo and Bull-Man Wrestling Lion

Mesopotamia, 2250-2100 BCE

Cyprus, 15th-13th c. BCE

Cyprus, 14th-12th c. BCE

Griffin Battling a HorseMesopotamia, 14th-13th c. BCE

Lion HuntIran, 8th-7th c. BCE

King Battling GriffinMesopotamia, 8th-7th c. BCE

King Holding Griffins at BayIran, 6th-5th c. BCE