by Amy P Storms

Created on: September 16, 2008

Ancient Egypt is a culture that is awash with symbolism. A multifaceted society, ancient Egyptians often used complex images and symbols to convey different meanings. These symbols varied, but as with many other cultures, the Egyptians often used animals images. On one side, the animals represented characteristics that were to be feared and admired by the Egyptians. On the other side, many animals became associated with the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Egyptians.

The Egyptian culture was one who understood animal characteristics, and admired them. These characteristics were often ones that humans lacked, or were dangerous. In depicting animals with human attributes, or humans with animal attributes, Egyptians were drawing their gods: their gods were like humans, but much more powerful and admirable. The powers of each god were symbolized by animals with similar characteristics. This anthropomorphic representation of the gods existed in many cultures, but was prevalent in ancient Egyptian culture.

This is how the god Anubis was often depicted as a man with a jackal head. Anubis was the god of embalming and the dead. Jackals were often seen in cemeteries, and so it was believed that Anubis was watching over the dead.

One animal whose images were used often in ancient Egyptian images is the lion. Historically, the Egyptians depicted the lion with human attributes, the most famous example of this being the Sphinx.

Fittingly, the lion is considered the king of the jungle, and the symbolism associated with that cannot be overlooked. Lions were seen as representing strength and fierceness, which are qualities that were desired in the Pharaohs. Like a good ruler, the lion is powerful. It is understood that lions were often buried with the Pharaohs in tombs, although the evidence of this is so far limited to written accounts.

While lions no longer roam Egypt, there was a time when they did. They tended to live on the edges of the desert and became known as the guardians of the horizon. As the sun arose each morning and sank each evening on this horizon, the lion represented the heat of the sun. The lion was often associated with the powerful sun god Ra. In addition, the lion was a feature of the god Aker, who guarded the gateway to the netherworld, through which the sun passed each day. Thus, the lion was associated also with death and rebirth. A number of goddesses are also depicted with lion faces.

Lions are a powerful creature, and so it was inevitable that they would be admired and worshipped by some cultures. The Egyptian culture, while not necessarily worshipping lions, did hold them in great esteem, and gave some of their most powerful gods, including their creator Ra, lion attributes.

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