Butterfly

The Butterfly in Ancient Egypt

The butterfly is thought to be one of the very few examples of an ancient Egyptian use of an insect motif purely for its own beauty, rather than as a symbol of religious or mythological significance. Butterflies were often depicted in tomb paintings of river-bank scenes throughout the Old and New Kingdoms, apparently for decoration's sake.

The most frequently shown is a large monarch species, the Plain Tiger Butterfly. The butterfly motif was also used in jewelry designs, such as the silver bracelets found in the tomb of Queen Hetepheres.

The Insects of Ancient Egypt