Egypt is one of the ancient countries with mythical creatures that are quite fascinating to know about. This country is not only rich in culture but the history of its gods and goddesses. And those mysterious mythical creatures are also amazing. That is why I think I should bring some of the Egyptian mythical creatures for you guys to see today. We are quite more aware of their gods and goddesses rather than their mythical creatures compared to the Greek’s. So let’s find out together the name, power, and the look of some of the mythical creatures from Egypt.
1Griffin
Existed in many cultures as their mythical creatures, the ultimate origins of Griffin remain a mystery. Griffin – the Beast of War, was the creature with the head, wings, and talons of an eagle on a lion’s body. Just like the title suggests, the combination of the two animals makes Griffon the symbol of war. In ancient Egypt, it also doubled its duty as the “king” of all mythological monsters. It was also the staunch guardian of priceless treasures. This legendary creature has been in many storytellings and fantasies for thousands of years, and definitely still going.
2Ouroboros
This is the ancient symbol of a snake or serpent eating its own tail which resembles infinity. At the same time, this symbol also signifies the cycle of birth and death as well. Ouroboros came from an Egyptian religious text found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun in the 14th century. That symbol appeared in a passage about the origin of the sun god Ra through a union with the death god Osiris. The symbol persisted in Egypt into Roman times when it frequently appeared on magical talismans or combined with other magical emblems. Some other sources said that the Egyptians used the symbol to represent the cyclical nature of the year.
3Phoenix
Also known as Bennu in Egyptian culture, this mythical bird symbolized life, death, rebirth, and cycles. Phenix was a female flaming bird with beautiful gold and red plumage which was said to live between 500 to 1461 years. At the end of its life cycle, the phoenix builds itself a nest of cinnamon twigs to which it ignites. Then both the bird and the nest burn fiercely then reduced to ashes from which a new young phoenix arises. If you watched Harry Potter, you would definitely remember that scene. From the Book of the Dead, Bennu was one of the sacred symbols of worship at Heliopolis. The bird is also closely associated with the rising sun and the Egyptian sun god Ra. Apart from Egypt, Phoenix also appeared in the mythologies of other cultures like Arabian, Persian, Greek, Romans, Chinese, Hindu, etc as well.
4Scarab
Scarabs were a type of beetle found in every part of the world. These beetles were carved as a common type of amulet, seal, or ring bezel found in Egypt, Nubia, and Syria from the 6th dynasty. In ancient Egyptian religion, the sun god Ra was seen to roll across the sky each day to transform bodies and souls. This beetle has similar behavior which was seen as a symbol of this heavenly cycle of the idea of rebirth or regeneration. The Egyptian god Kepri, Ra as the rising sun, was also often depicted as a scarab beetle or scarab beetle-headed man. At the same time, these mythical creatures in a form of amulets were also common in mummification and funeral processions.
5Serpopard
The serpopards are an unusual example of mythical creatures that are depicted with the body of a leopard and the head of a snake. This mythical animal appeared in Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian art, and the serpopard is a modern coinage of this creature. Some sources suggested that the Serpopard represents a symbol of the chaos that reigned beyond Egypt’s borders which the king must tame. In Egyptian culture, these mythical creatures are shown conquered or restrained as in the Narmer Palette or attacking other animals. Whereas in Mesopotamia art, they are shown in pairs often with intertwined necks. In both cultures, the Serpopards were the animals associated with protection and royalty.
6Sphinx
Has been sitting in front of the Great Pyramid for centuries, the Sphinx is one of the most well-known Egyptian mythical creatures. The sphinx has the head of a human, the haunches of a lion, and sometimes the wings of a bird. In Egyptian culture, the sphinxes invariably have the head of a man and are described as unaggressive and even-tempered. While for Greek and Turkish, their sphinxes are often female, with an unpleasant disposition. With all cultures, the sphinxes have the same functions: to zealously guard treasures, and not allow travelers to pass unless they can solve a clever riddle. The Great Sphinx which is the largest sphinx statue has become Egypt’s emblem which frequently appears on stamps, coins, and official documents.
Related Post: Egyptian Gods & Goddesses With Animal Heads
