Book contents
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Part I The Americas
- Part II Europe
- Part III Africa
- 11 Primate Behavior in Ancient Egypt
- 12 The Nonhuman Primate Remains from the Baboon Catacomb at Saqqara in Egypt
- 13 Primates in South African Rock Art
- 14 Citizens of the Savanna
- 15 Lemur Hunting in Madagascar’s Present and Past
- Part IV Asia
- Index
- References
11 - Primate Behavior in Ancient Egypt
The Iconography of Baboons and Other Monkeys in the Old Kingdom
from Part III - Africa
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 August 2022
Book contents
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Part I The Americas
- Part II Europe
- Part III Africa
- 11 Primate Behavior in Ancient Egypt
- 12 The Nonhuman Primate Remains from the Baboon Catacomb at Saqqara in Egypt
- 13 Primates in South African Rock Art
- 14 Citizens of the Savanna
- 15 Lemur Hunting in Madagascar’s Present and Past
- Part IV Asia
- Index
- References
Summary
While various primates may have originally roamed in the formally lush prehistoric landscape of Egypt, by the Old Kingdom period, baboons and other monkeys were not native to Egypt proper and only available through foreign import from further south. Yet monkeys remained a recurrent feature in the iconography of this and later periods. A motivation of great religious significance was likely behind the baboon’s continual importation. Of a more secular nature, however, are reliefs from both royal and non-royal tombs where they are inserted into traditionally human scenes, exhibiting their own natural behavior, or imitating human actions, often rather humorously. This study examines the type of primate behaviors observed by the Egyptians and recorded on the walls of their tombs for eternity.
Key words:
Ancient Egypt, Old Kingdom, Baboon, Monkey, Primate behavior, Iconography
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- World ArchaeoprimatologyInterconnections of Humans and Nonhuman Primates in the Past, pp. 283 - 309Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022
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