Why were birds mummified?

Mummification was a common funerary practice in ancient Egypt, where the bodies of humans and animals alike were preserved after death. Birds were among the animals that were mummified, either as offerings to the gods or as beloved pets that Egyptians wanted to take with them to the afterlife. The mummification of birds has fascinated archaeologists and historians, providing insight into ancient Egyptian culture, religion, and the symbolic importance of birds in their society.

Importance of Birds in Ancient Egypt

Birds held great significance for ancient Egyptians and were integrated into many aspects of their culture. Several major gods were depicted with bird heads or associated with sacred birds, like the ibis-headed Thoth and falcon-headed Horus. Birds symbolized valued qualities like wisdom, freedom, and power. Some were seen as representations or messengers of the gods. Egyptians also observed patterns of birds in the natural world, which influenced practices like divination and time-telling. The migration and nesting of birds marked seasons and celestial events.

Examples of Prominent Bird Deities

• Thoth – God of wisdom, learning, and time who had the head of an ibis
• Horus – God of kingship who had the head of a falcon
• Hathor – Goddess of motherhood, joy, and love who was sometimes depicted as a cow with falcon wings
• Mut – Mother goddess associated with vultures

With this reverence for birds, it is understandable why Egyptians would want to mummify them as offerings to specific gods with whom they were associated. Mummified birds served as votive offerings at temples honoring gods like Thoth and Horus.

Types of Birds Mummified

Archaeologists have discovered a wide array of mummified bird remains, representing over 100 species native to Egypt. Some of the most common include:

Sacred Ibis

The ibis mummified in ancient Egypt was the sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), which is still found across sub-Saharan Africa today. With its long, curved beak and black and white plumage, the ibis was associated with the god Thoth and wisdom. Thousands of ibis mummies have been found, often in catacombs at Thoth’s cult center in Hermopolis.

Falcons

Several falcon species were mummified, most linked to Horus or Ra. These include the kestrel, peregrine falcon, lanner falcon, and merlin. The iconic image of mummified falcons comes from Saqqara, where archaeologists found hundreds of thousands of mummified falcons in the Late Period (664-332 BCE) necropolis dedicated to the falcon god Sokar.

Cats and Birds

Cats were another common mummified animal. Some mass cat mummy sites contain cat remains intermixed with bundles of mummified birds, like at the Bubasteion necropolis in Saqqara. The cat goddess Bastet was sometimes depicted with bird features.

Other Species

While ibises and falcons account for the bulk of bird mummies, remains of many other species have been identified, including:

• Pigeons
• Egrets
• Ducks
• Quail
• Swifts
• Sparrows
• Starlings

These smaller birds were likely mummified as offerings as well, but some may have been pets mourned by their owners.

The Mummification Process

The intricate process used to mummify humans was also applied to animals like birds. The main steps were:

1. Removing internal organs – The organs were cleaned, dried, and placed in special containers or wrapped separately from the body.
2. Drying out the body – Natron salt was used to desiccate the tissue and remove moisture.
3. Wrapping and bandaging – Linen bandages and amulets were wrapped around the dried body along with preservatives like resin.
4. Sealing in container – The wrapped mummy was placed in a coffin, sarcophagus, or other container for burial.

However, the mummification of birds had some variations:

• The viscera were rarely preserved separately.
• Less care was taken in posing the body.
• Birds were often wrapped together in bundles rather than individually.

Votive Mummies

Birds that were mummified as votive offerings usually underwent only partial mummification. Their bodies were dried with natron but then simply dipped in resin before being wrapped and placed in containers. However, some were lavished with the same attention to detail as human mummies.

Why Specific Birds Were Chosen

The types of birds mummified generally aligned with their symbolic meaning in Egyptian religion. Reasons why certain birds were chosen include:

• Association with a particular deity
• Admired qualities like wisdom, speed, or sight
• Value for divination and timekeeping
• Part of creation myths and cosmology
• Belief they housed human souls (ba) after death

However, some working theories suggest mummified birds at sacred sites were bred specifically for the purpose of ritual sacrifice. There may have been large-scale farming of birds like ibises and falcons for mummification.

Importance of Birds in the Afterlife

In addition to votive purposes, Egyptians wanted to mummify birds that were beloved pets in order to bring them to the afterlife. Birds were seen as manifestations of human souls (ba) after death, able to freely traverse between the mortal world and afterlife. Mummified birds placed in tombs may have been intended to represent the deceased’s own soul in the afterlife.

Birds as Food in the Afterlife

Depictions of the afterlife in the Book of the Dead and tomb art show birds as food offerings for the deceased’s ka (life force). This included species like geese, ducks, quail, and oryx. Mummified birds interred with the deceased may have served as food offerings for sustenance in the afterlife.

Status Symbols

In some cases, mummified birds likely served as status symbols among the Egyptian elite. Particularly elaborate mummy bundles or rare species may have demonstrated wealth, power, and the resources to make lavish votive offerings. Some birds were imported great distances before mummification, like the remains of Numidian bustards and macqueen’s bustards discovered in Egypt, species that lived primarily in sub-Saharan Africa over 1500 miles away.

Archaeological Sites With Bird Mummies

Some major sites where archaeologists have uncovered mummified birds include:

Major Collections of Bird Mummies

Some top museums housing significant collections of Egyptian bird mummies include:

• The British Museum, London
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
• The Egyptian Museum, Cairo
• The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at UC Berkeley

These collections provide invaluable samples for scientific analysis using modern techniques like CT scanning, DNA sequencing, radiocarbon dating, and isotope analysis. Ongoing research continues to uncover new insights into mummification practices and the birds’ origins.

Scientific Insights From Bird Mummies

Studying bird mummies with modern technology has revealed fascinating details about mummification techniques and ancient Egyptian trade:

• DNA analysis shows some birds were wild-caught locally while others were captive-bred.
• Isotope studies trace the geographic origins of mummified bird remains.
• scan imaging visualize the contents of mummy bundles.
• Radiocarbon dating refines the timeline of mummification practices.

This combination of archaeology, history, and science brings ancient bird mummies to life in remarkable ways.

Conclusion

Birds held deep cultural and religious symbolism in ancient Egypt, seen as representations of the gods themselves or their sacred messengers. Mummified birds served ritual purposes as votive offerings, food for the afterlife, and even status symbols. The practice illuminates how birds were integral to Egyptian beliefs about the cosmos, death, and the transition to the afterlife. Ongoing analysis of bird mummies continues to reveal new insights into the intricate methods and meaning behind this ancient tradition. The ubiquity of mummified falcons, ibises, and other species speaks to the veneration of birds that permeated so many aspects of daily life and religion in ancient Egypt.