The Catacombs of Anubis at North Saqqara

NICHOLSON, Paul T.; Ikram, Salima; MILLS, Steve

doi:10.2307/j.ctv1vwbtfm

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…There are also catacombs on the eastern side which should be considered. The first of these eastern catacombs is for 'dogs' and has become known as the Catacombs of Anubis [25].…”

Section: Development Of the Sacred Animal Necropolismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is quite likely that they belong completely within the Ptolemaic era (332-330 B.C. ), but this cannot be proven without radiocarbon dates [25] (p. 44) (Figure 3). To the south of the Catacombs of Anubis and their temple the Anubieion [26], is the Bubastieion Temple dedicated to the cat goddess Bastet.…”

Section: Development Of the Sacred Animal Necropolismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Emery's successors have been able to bring new insights into the study of the Sacred Animal Necropolis and have conducted new survey work as well as metrical studies on the mummy pots [35] and faunal examination of the mummified remains [25,27,36]. These studies have gained from advances in technology ranging from improved handheld lighting for work underground to GPS mapping and Electronic Distance Measuring equipment.…”

Section: Rediscovery and Archaeological Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They simply appear on a plan by Jacques de Morgan (1857-1924) published in 1897 [37]. The modern techniques of investigation have been used on this catacomb which was otherwise unpublished [25,38].…”

Section: Rediscovery and Archaeological Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recent study of the Catacombs of Anubis has shown that many of the animals were very young, a matter of hours or days old, at the time of their deaths and were consequently very small. On this basis, it has been suggested that the catacomb could have contained as many as 8 million dogs [25,38]. Whatever the precise numbers, it is clear that the cults required numerous votive animals.…”

Section: Findings From the Sacred Animal Necropolismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sacred Animals at Saqqara

Nicholson

2022

Heritage

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Saqqara, the necropolis of the first capital city of a unified Egypt, is best known today for the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser (2667–2648 B.C.). However, the Step Pyramid is only the most visible feature of this great burial site, and the tombs of many thousands of individuals are hidden beneath the sands, some excavated, others not. These human burials are only a part of Saqqara’s funerary history. This paper examines the catacombs of the numerous animals revered by the Egyptians at Saqqara and whose burial places have come to be known collectively as ‘The Sacred Animal Necropolis’ (SAN). First amongst these, both in importance and inception, was the Apis bull, the living image (ba) of Ptah, creator god of Memphis. However, it was the work conducted by Professor W.B. Emery (1903–1971) which brought to light the burial place of the Mother of the Apis as well as those for ibises, falcons, and baboons and which has provided much of what we know of the Sacred Animal Necropolis at North Saqqara. More recent work has built upon the discoveries made by Emery and others and taken a new approach to these subterranean catacombs for sacred animals.

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“…There are also catacombs on the eastern side which should be considered. The first of these eastern catacombs is for 'dogs' and has become known as the Catacombs of Anubis [25].…”

Section: Development Of the Sacred Animal Necropolismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Development Of the Sacred Animal Necropolismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rediscovery and Archaeological Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rediscovery and Archaeological Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Findings From the Sacred Animal Necropolismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sacred Animals at Saqqara

Nicholson

2022

Heritage

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A Pack of Hounds and its Master? A Bi-Species Burial from the Necropolis of Deir El-Banat (Fayum)

Belova,

Khasanov,

Krylovich

et al. 2024

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Dog burials are known from Egypt from the Predynastic period from c. 3500 BC onward and continue into the Roman era. Different burials have been interpreted in a variety of ways: companion/pet/working animals, associated with divinities, and as guardians. This paper presents a unique interment of a single human and a group of dogs found in the cemetery of Deir el-Banat in the Fayum (Egypt), which can be interpreted as either a religio-magical protective deposit for the cemetery, or a religio-medical one, involving the sacrifice of several animals.

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