Owl

The Owl in Ancient Egypt


 * Egyptian Name:**

//Sma//


 * Hieroglyphics:**



A number of owl species migrate through or winter in Egypt, such as the Barn Owl, Pallid Scops-owl, Little Owl, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, and the Short-eared Owl.

The barn owl was a favorite subject in ancient Egyptian wildlife art, and was used as a hieroglyphic. The owl hieroglyphic was used in words and phrases such as "come together," "obey," "by," "from," "oversee," "hear," "bring," "eat," and "devour".

Owls were occasionally mummified, and skeletons of bats have been found inside the mummy case of owls - both the bat and the owl, being nocturnal and able to fly, symbolically offered the deceased the ability to fly through the darkness of the //Duat//.

The Birds of Prey of Ancient Egypt