Ibis

The Ibis in Ancient Egypt


 * Egyptian Names:**

//Dhw// (African Sacred Ibis)

//Hebiu// (Glossy Ibis)

//Akhet// (Hermit Ibis )


 * Hieroglyphics:**

(African Sacred Ibis) (Glossy Ibis) (Hermit Ibis )

The African Sacred Ibis, the Hermit Ibis, and the Glossy Ibis were all well known to the ancient Egyptians, and were occasionally kept as pets. Some Egyptologists think that the Egyptians identified the crescent moon with the curved beak of the ibis, and that the white and black feathers made them think of the changing patterns on the moon.

The hieroglyphic of an African Sacred Ibis or a Glossy Ibis meant "glory," "virtue," "shining," and "insight." The hieroglyphic of a Hermit Ibis meant //Akh// ("spirit.") Ibises were allowed to freely wander the temples, and to kill a sacred ibis was punishable by death. Ibises were worshiped because they killed cobras and other dangerous reptiles.

The ibis was associated with Thoth, the god of scribes, and ibis pendants, made of bronze and faience, were worn by scribes as a symbol of diligence. In his ibis form, Thoth was said to have laid the Cosmic Egg from which the world was hatched. Flocks of sacred ibises were kept in temples dedicated to Thoth.

Ibis hatcheries were attached to Thoth's temples - in the area of Hermopolis alone nearly a dozen ibis breeding places are known. Each was an independent institution with its own fields for the growing of grain to feed the birds, and ponds for them to wade in. The temple courtyard was often planted with trees or bushes in order to make it a more pleasant place for the birds.

After death, the birds were mummified, wrapped in multicolored bandages, and given gilded beaks and wooden crowns. They were then buried in pots or wooden coffins, sometimes painted with images of Thoth. Over four million of these mummified ibises have been found.

The ibises were carefully cared for - an X-ray of one of the mummies revealed that one of the birds had a fractured leg that had been healed. There are records of pilgrims bringing in the remains of dead ibises that they had found in the wild so that they could be mummified and buried on the temple land, so holy were they held to be.

The Waterfowl of Ancient Egypt