In ancient Egypt, animals were an integral part of religious practices from the Predynastic Period onwards, with their symbolic and physical roles evolving over time. Various animal taxa associated with Egyptian deities were mummified and then placed in animal necropoleis and tombs across various locations. The ancient Egyptian animal cult has occupied Egyptologists and scientists from neighbouring disciplines since the 19th century. An overall negative assessment resulted in the subject being rather scientifically downplayed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but has since given way to a growing interest in this subject. Nevertheless, questions remain still unanswered. There are clear deficits in the area of the re-contextualisation of once interrelated material remains and the associated possible re-evaluation. In a cooperation with the Ancient Orient Museum, Tokyo, an international workshop on the theme will be held in Japan from 28th to 30th July 2025.
Tazawa et al. (Thu,) studied this question.