Egyptomania and its Unique Fauna

Egyptomania: Origins and Background

• Term coined by the University of Michigan in 2015
• Reflects obsession with ancient Egypt, a one-of-a-kind civilization
• Ancient Egypt spanned over 3,000 years (circa 3150 BC to 30 BC)
• Civilization flourished along the Nile River, which was more lush and wide during that era
• Earth was different with pristine and wild nature
• During pyramid construction, woolly mammoths roamed parts of the Earth

Extinct Animals of Ancient Egypt

Barbery Lion (Egyptian Lion)

• Known as Panthera leo leo, a population of the northern lion
• Inhabited deserts, mountains, and the Nile border
• Largest lion kind, weighing up to 300 kg (660 lbs)
• Ancient Egyptians viewed them as mystical protectors
• Pharaohs kept and trained them; some lions were buried with royalty
• Hunted by pharaohs to showcase bravery
• Extinction due to hunting and habitat loss

Aurochs

• Known as Bos primigenius, considered wild ancestors of domestic cattle
• Large, weighing up to 1.5 tons with distinct proportions
• Seen as powerful and menacing; symbolized power
• Provided meat through hunting, contributing to the economy
• Extinction driven by habitat loss and hunting
• Survived longer than ancient Egyptians, last seen in Roman Egypt

Benu Heron

• An extinct heron species with a height up to 2 meters (6.6 ft)
• Named after the Bennu, an Egyptian deity representing sun, creation, and rebirth
• Possibly lived in Nile wetlands; fed on fish, mammals, and snakes
• Extinct due to potential overhunting and wetland degradation
• Symbolically important but interactions with humans not well-documented

Maidum Goose

• Extinct goose identified solely through Egyptian art
• Unique color patterns, not linked to any known species
• Depicted in a 4,600 year-old painting called Egypt's Mona Lisa
• Possibly hunted and used in offerings, but no fossil remains have been found

North African Elephant

• A smaller subspecies of African bush elephant
• Coexisted with ancient Egyptians but were driven to extinction around 2900 BC
• Disliked due to crop destruction and structural damage
• Hunted for ivory and occasionally kept in training camps
• Used in wars and exhibition games, contributing to their extinction

Hippos

• Same subspecies as today but faced hostility in ancient Egypt
• Caused crop damage, attacked boats, maimed people
• Hippo hunting focused on extermination due to their destructive tendencies
• Despite efforts, hippos survived until the early 1800s in Egypt

Conclusion

• Ancient Egypt hosted a variety of unique animals now extinct in the region
• Influence of these animals seen in culture, religion, and economy
• Plans for new educational content and website “Extinct Zoo” announced