North+African+Porcupine

The Porcupine in Ancient Egypt


 * Egyptian Name:**

//Henta// or //Hentj// ("Spiny")

Representations of the North African Crested Porcupine are very rare. The quills were used as decoration and as pens. Although it is uncertain what divine associations the porcupine had, according to Maspero it was suggested that the animal had been consecrated either to Ra or to Bes.

The Rodents of Ancient Egypt