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The term "mummy" comes from the Persian/Arabic word mummiya, which means "tar," as the early Arabs believed that the mysteriously wrapped remains found in ancient tombs were coated in this dark, sticky substance. In reality, the ancient Egyptians not only preserved their human dead but also mummified animals—by the millions.
From offerings to gods to beloved pets buried alongside their owners, the rise of animal mummification became a nationwide obsession. This massive demand led to the establishment of vast farms, resources, and an expanded workforce to care for and breed a wide variety of animals, which soon became a common practice. Over 70 million animals were mummified and interred in Egypt's catacombs. We thought it would be fascinating to explore some of the most extraordinary mummified animals discovered to date.
10. The Crocodile Mummy
The ancient Egyptians held crocodiles in high regard, viewing them as the earthly form of the crocodile god Sobek. Thousands of crocodiles were mummified after their death to honor the gods. The demand for mummified crocodiles across the land was immense, with tens of thousands raised in captivity, only to be sacrificed and preserved. Archaeologists have also recently confirmed long-standing theories that crocodiles were hunted, a dangerous endeavor, to fuel this widespread practice.
Researchers in France were left astonished when they found a significant skull fracture during a virtual necropsy on one of the crocodile mummies housed at the Musée des Confluences in Lyon, France. This discovery marked the first concrete evidence confirming that these wild animals were hunted, sold, and transformed into mummies for ceremonial purposes.
9. The Lion Mummies
Lions were revered in ancient Egypt, regarded as the ultimate predators and eternal symbols of both danger and protection. Pharaohs were known to participate in lion hunts to assert their dominance, with Amenhotep III famously killing at least 102 lions in the first decade of his rule. For a long time, Egyptologists had only uncovered one lion mummy, raising questions about their rarity or whether we were simply searching in the wrong locations.
In November 2019, during an excavation at Saqqara, an archaeological team led by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities revealed the discovery of five additional lion mummies, thought to be cubs. These cubs, approximately eight months old at the time of their death and measuring about 3 feet (1 meter) in length, were found in the Bubasteion necropolis—a cat mummification site. Alongside the cubs were various wooden and bronze cat sculptures, as well as other mummified animals, including snakes and reptiles. The artifacts were dated to the 26th Dynasty of Egypt, around 664–525 BC.
8. The Millions of Ibis Mummies
The Ibis cult was prevalent during the Roman and Ptolemaic periods, dedicated to Thoth, the god of wisdom. Carbon dating from 2015 revealed that the Egyptian ibis mummies were created between 450 and 250 BC. The quantity of mummified ibises is truly astonishing. Saqqara alone is home to nearly 500,000 ibis mummies, with an additional 10,000 mummified sacrifices being added every year. If that number isn't mind-blowing enough, we should also consider the more than four million ibis mummies found in the Tuna el-Gebel catacombs.
The process of ibis mummification involved evisceration and desiccation. Typically, the bird's neck and head would be bent backward and pressed tightly against its body. It would then be submerged in tar and meticulously wrapped in linen. The sheer volume of mummified ibises suggests that these were likely produced en masse, as many recovered mummies only contained partial remains, with some body parts either missing or added to other mummies. After fulfilling their ceremonial roles, the mummified ibises were placed in clay pots, wooden coffins, or sarcophagi.
7. The Abundant Cat Mummies
The Egyptians were undoubtedly devoted to cats—or more specifically, to cat mummies. Domestic cats were commonly mummified as religious offerings, symbolizing Bastet, the goddess of war. The cult of Bastet flourished primarily in the areas of Beni Hasan and Thebes during the Ptolemaic period. Thousands of cat mummies have been discovered in the Saqqara catacombs. Cats bred for sacrifice often died from broken necks or strangulation. During mummification, their bodies were left to dry and then packed with soil, mud, or other packing materials. Typically, their bodies were placed in a sitting position with limbs folded against their bodies, and the linen wrapping was often adorned with intricate decorative patterns.
In the early days of cat mummification, the mummies were often placed in small bronze or wooden sarcophagi. The most expensive mummies were typically decorated with facial features painted in black and often featured eyes made from obsidian, rock crystal, or even colored glass. Archaeologists have also uncovered cat mummies containing the bodies of small kittens or fetuses buried inside the adult cats. Over time, however, the mummification process became less elaborate, and the consistency of mummified cats diminished.
6. Saqqara’s Mummified Cobras
Life was tough for snakes in Thebes during the late Egyptian period and the Roman era, as they were considered sacred animals of the god Amun. They were also linked to regeneration and rebirth because of their ability to shed their skins. Many snake mummies were wrapped in linen, while others were placed in beautifully crafted bronze containers and offered as sacrifices to Atum at shrines and burial sites. One such site, Amara West, featured a 'shrine' surrounded by a string of snake burials. Though not mummified, this cemetery contained hundreds of python skeletons, which might have ties to a Nubian snake cult.
Excavations at Saqqara have revealed several mummies of Egyptian cobras, tightly wrapped in bundles. High-tech 3D scans have allowed researchers to observe spinal fractures, which they believe resulted from a ‘whipping’ technique where the cobras were held by the tail and forcefully smashed to the ground. These cobras were so well-preserved that researchers could even detect considerable kidney damage, suggesting they were likely dehydrated before death, shedding light on the harsh conditions under which they were kept. The resin inside their jaws was also identified, thought to have been used to keep their mouths open, ensuring they could speak, eat, and breathe in the afterlife.
5. The Mummified Baboons
Baboons, as the embodiment of the moon god and the god of wisdom, held a revered role in ancient Egypt, likely symbolizing the god Thoth. The images of baboons on funerary jars containing the vital organs of their human counterparts speak volumes about the profound religious and cultural significance attached to these creatures. Although baboons were bred in large numbers at temples, the number of baboon mummies discovered so far is still far fewer compared to the vast quantities of mummified cats and ibises.
Around 400 baboon mummies were discovered in the catacombs of Saqqara, which has become infamous for such finds. Nearly all of these baboons were mummified using plaster and buried in wooden chests. The condition of the mummies strongly indicates that they were bred specifically for religious sacrifice and mummification. Not a single baboon died from natural causes, with almost all showing signs of severe injuries, osteomyelitis, malnutrition, and significant vitamin D deficiency.
4. Scarab Beetles
In November 2018, a team of archaeologists in Egypt uncovered an extraordinary collection of scarab beetle mummies. Along with this discovery, they unearthed an incredibly well-preserved tomb from the fifth dynasty, which had previously been hidden. The beetle mummies were found alongside a variety of other artifacts spread across seven tombs located near the pyramid complex of King Userkaf, south of Cairo.
As per Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry, the remarkable discovery included two scarab beetle mummies wrapped in cloth, discovered inside a limestone sarcophagus with a beautifully adorned vaulted lid, leaving the entire team in awe of its preservation. Additionally, another collection of remarkably intact beetle mummies was found inside a smaller sarcophagus. The Ministry highlighted that finding mummified scarab beetles is an extraordinary event, one that most archaeologists will never experience in their careers.
3. A Pharaoh’s Hunting Dog
One of the remarkable discoveries in the Valley of the Kings was the preserved remains of a Pharaoh’s hunting dog, whose wrappings had long since fallen away. In life, this dog was likely pampered, receiving the choicest leftovers from the Pharaoh’s hunts and perhaps even sleeping in comfort. After its death, the dog was given a carefully crafted tomb in the prestigious Valley of the Kings.
In ancient Egypt, dogs were treated much like we do today. They served as pets, herders, guardians, and even as ‘police’ dogs. Several dog breeds were common in Egypt, with the Basenji, Greyhound, and Saluki being particularly favored for hunting. From the earliest dynasties, Egyptians revered many jackal gods, the most famous being Anubis, who was often depicted as a canine or a human led by a canine.
While the Anubis figure was traditionally seen as a jackal, its black coloration—symbolizing rebirth and the afterlife—is not typical of jackals and might actually represent a wild dog. As jackals and wild dogs often roamed the desert's outskirts, close to the burial sites of the deceased, they were regarded as protectors of the dead.
2. The Gazelle of an Egyptian Queen
Among the most fascinating animal mummies uncovered was the pet gazelle of an Egyptian queen. The gazelle, preserved in stunning condition, was granted the same lavish treatment as any royal family member in preparation for its journey into the afterlife. Accompanying its queen to her eternal resting place around 945 BC, it was carefully wrapped in blue-trimmed linen and placed in a handcrafted wooden casket. Historians speculate that the gazelle likely belonged to Queen Isetemkheb D, who reigned from approximately 1070–945 BC and was entombed in the royal cache known as ‘DB320.’
The gazelle’s mummy and its intricately designed wooden casket—crafted from multiple sycamore planks and fastened with pivot bearings—are now displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The casket’s interior and exterior are coated with a thick layer of alabaster plaster, with the exterior painted black and the interior painted white. After death, the gazelle’s internal organs were returned to its body and filled with fine sand to preserve its original form.
1. The Mummification of Bulls
The Apis bull cult, which dates back to around 800 BC, is the earliest Egyptian cult to be confirmed through archaeological discoveries. It stands as the most influential of Egypt’s animal cults, viewing the bull as a powerful symbol of strength, fertility, and a divine connection to the creator gods Osiris and Ptah. The mummification of the Apis bull was a central practice in the cult’s daily rituals. While alive, the bull was housed in a special shrine and treated with the utmost care. Its movements and actions were carefully observed, as the priests believed it served as an intermediary between the gods, often consulted as an oracle.
Apis bulls were allowed to live to a natural age, unless they reached 28 years old, at which point they were sacrificed. Upon the death of an Apis bull, the nation would enter mourning. The bull was given an elaborate funeral, with intricate rites, and underwent a meticulous mummification process due to its large size.
In Memphis, the heart of the cult, enormous embalming tables have been unearthed. These beautifully engraved tables, with drainage channels, would have been used to dry the bull’s body with natron salts. Once dried, the body would be filled with sand and then wrapped in several layers of cloth. The final touch was the addition of synthetic eyes and a crafted ceramic head to preserve the bull’s features.
