Ancient Egypt: Sacred Animals Quiz

Answer: Ram

Khnum was one of the oldest gods in the Egypt pantheon. At first he was associated with the source of the Nile River, which flooded every year. Since the flooding brought clay and silt, as well as new life to gardens, it was believed that Khnum created the bodies of human children. Made out of clay on a potter's wheel, the children were then placed in their mother's wombs.

Answer: Hippo

Although the ancient Egyptians viewed male hippos as causing chaos, females were more venerated for the way they protected their young. Taweret was the goddess of childbirth and fertility. While the ancient Egyptians organized expeditions to hunt male hippos, there were very careful to not offend the goddess by killing too many females.

Answer: Cheetah

The ancient Egyptians believed that Mafdet protected from snake bite, as well as the sting of the scorpion. One of the earliest Egyptian goddesses, Mafdet is pictured as some sort of feline, however, she is shown as different types. She protected the king's chambers and other sacred places from poisonous animals, and was associated with justice.

Answer: Jackal

Throughout Egyptian history, the poor were buried in cemeteries under the sand after they died. There was a very real problem with jackals uncovering the bodies and eating them - so the jackal god Anubis became the protector of the dead and the deity who helped them find the afterlife in order to have their hearts weighed by Osiris. Anubis attended the scale upon which the heart was placed to determine whether the individual would have eternal life or eternal death.

Answer: Crocodile

Sobek was associated with many aspects of life, including military might, fertility, and the power of the pharaoh. The god also protected people from all of the dangers presented by the Nile River - including crocodiles!

Answer: Frog

Millions of frogs were born in ancient Egypt after the flooding of the Nile. The frog goddess became associated with fertility because the annual flood brought fertility to the land. In ancient Egyptian mythology, Heket was believed to be the wife of Khnum, who made new children out of clay with a potter's wheel, and was associated with the last stages of childbirth.

Answer: Bastet

Believed to have divine powers, cats were the most favored household pets in ancient Egypt - so much so that many have been found mummified. It is said that they were so revered that killing a cat could bring the death penalty. A cult that worshiped Bastet, who was worshiped as a warrior goddess, was located at Bubastis.

Many would visit the site, especially to have their dead cat buried in the sacred cemetery.

Answer: Scarab

Scarab beetles roll their eggs into a ball of dung, and push the ball across the ground until the young hatch, eating their way out. The sun god Ra similarly was believed to have pushed the sun across the sky each day, and the scarab became the symbol of the daily rebirth and regeneration. One of the most popular amulets in ancient Egypt, scarabs were incorporated into jewelry or used as seals.

Answer: Cobra

Wadjet was an important symbol in ancient Egypt, and was even one of the emblems (along with the vulture) on pharaoh's crown after the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. As such, she was considered to be the joint patron and protector of all of Egypt. In addition, she was the protector of the pharaoh and women in childbirth.

Answer: Falcon

Falcons were associated with the god Horus in ancient Egypt, who was the son of Osiris and Isis. It was believed that Horus killed his evil uncle, Set, in retaliation for the slaying of his father. Horus was the sky god, as well as the god of hunting and war.