This goose is from a set of paintings on
plaster from a 4th Dynasty tomb.
Animals were very highly thought of in Ancient Egypt. So much so that they were mummified like human beings when they died. The live animals associated with the gods were maintained in temples where they lived a pampered and lavish life. Crocodiles, Ibis, bulls and cats were all housed in these temples. At ancient Bubastis, which was a cult centre of the cat goddess Bastet, huge vaults cat cemeteries have been discovered.



The Ancient Egyptians mummified all manner of sacred animals, which were placed in special sanctuaries beneath temples , and vast quantities of these have survived. At the turn of the century some 300,000 cat mummies were shipped to Liverpool to be turned into fertilizer......!!!
On the Egyptians farms every animal had a function, dogs hunted, cats kept the rodents at bay and cattle pulled ploughs and provided them with meat and milk. Sheep, goats, pigs and poultry were also other sources of food. The donkey was the principal beast of burden and means of transport, and horses were notable by their absence. These were upper class animals and camels were not domesticated until a later date.