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A beautifully illustrated full-color guide to more than 60 wildlife species recorded in modern Egypt and also portrayed in ancient Egypt, by two leading experts in their fields
Illustrated with contemporary photographs and tomb carvings or paintings, this fascinating book provides a simultaneous guide to some 60 species of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, and invertebrate recorded in modern Egypt and also portrayed in tombs and temples or as mummies and gods in ancient Egypt—or even earlier in the case of the cave art from the Gilf el-Kebir.
- Each species is described in terms of its current characteristics (size, habits and habitats, and range in modern Egypt) and the animal’s relevance and religious and practical significance in ancient Egypt
- Provides information about where the animal portrayed may be viewed in Egypt’s tombs and temples
- Relevant gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt are listed and described
- The introduction covers biogeography, ancient Egypt and its wildlife, modern developments, a chronology of ancient Egypt, and a glossary
"Beautifully written—very concise but almost poetic. . . . this is a wonderful addition to the must have books for the interested tourist visiting Egypt."—Bob Brier, Ancient Egypt
"With little effort, the reader acquires a substantial amount of information that makes them well-equipped to explore further. . . . The book focuses on more surprising and novel information, making it suitable as both reference and recreational reading. . . . At the interface of the past and present, and of nature and culture, the book effectively promotes a rich, holistic travel experience and a deeper understanding of human-animal relations in ancient Egypt." —Jakob Bro-Jorgensen, Egyptian Archaeology
"There is much to enjoy here, to marvel at, and to be thankful for. So, it’s a recommended read even if only for the ornithological section alone." —Fatbirder
Richard Hoath is a leading naturalist based in Egypt, having traveled extensively throughout the Middle East. He is the author and illustrator of The Birds of Egypt and the Middle East (2021), A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt (pbk edition, 2009), and many other books and articles on the wildlife of the region. He is a founder member and serves on the Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee, is a long-time member of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME), and is currently on the faculty of the American University in Cairo.
Salima Ikram is distinguished university professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo. She has directed the Animal Mummy Project and the North Kharga Darb Ain Amur Survey, among other truly exciting projects and excavations, throughout Egypt and in Turkey, Sudan, and Greece. She has worked in museums around the world, including the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. She has published extensively, for both scholarly and general audiences, including Death and Burial in Ancient Egypt (AUC Press, 2015) and Divine Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt (AUC Press, pbk edition, 2015).
General Introduction
Biogeography of Egypt
Human Development
Ancient Egypt and Its Wildlife
Modern Developments Affecting Wildlife
Egypt's Bird Migrations
Chronology of Ancient Egypt
Using This Book
Glossary
Modern & Ancient Species Descriptions
Further Reading
Acknowledgements
Index