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Quiz about Animals in Egyptian Mythology

Animals in Egyptian Mythology Trivia Quiz

Egypt is fairly unique in their direct association between their animals and their gods. The gods often have animal heads or are even wholly animals. This quiz is about these associations.

A multiple-choice quiz by theskink. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
theskink

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
329,231

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
721

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This animal was particularly important in Ancient Egypt for killing certain pests. These animals were the symbol of the goddess Bast. What common animal am I talking about? Hint

Spiders

Cobras

Cats

Dragonflies

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Question 2 of 10

2. The ancient city of Hermopolis (Magna) is known for keeping this animal sacred. It is considered the symbol of the god, Thoth. What is this fairly common Egyptian animal? Hint

Jackal

Scorpion

Falcon

Ibis

3. There have also been mummified animals found at a site near the Faiyum lake. The site takes its name from the worship of these creatures. They were a symbol of the Nile god, Sobek. What are these animals? Hint

Hippos

Ducks

Frogs

Crocodiles

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Question 4 of 10

4. A very important symbol is this bird which is always associated with kingship in ancient Egypt. This animal was usually associated with the god Horus. Which bird is this? Hint

Falcon

Vulture

Eagle

Egret

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Question 5 of 10

5. This animal was usually associated with the goddess Hathor. They both were symbols of life and motherhood. Which animal essential for Egyptian life is this? Hint

Goat

Pig

Sheep

Cow

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Question 6 of 10

6. This animal often associated with the dead is this symbol of the god Anubis. Which is it? Hint

Jackal

Mule

Vulture

Blow Fly

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Question 7 of 10

7. This Nile animal is one of the most ferocious in Egypt. The Egyptians hold that the first pharaoh of Egypt was killed by one of these animals. What is this dangerous animal? Hint

Lion

Crocodile

Hippopotamus

Cobra

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Ancient Egyptians associated Khepri, an aspect of Ra, with this animal. It was thought that Khepri would roll the sun up in the sky everyday, similar to the behavior of this animal. Hint

Scorpion

Camel

Bass

Scarab

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Another goddess closely associated with an animal is Wadjet. Her symbol is commonly found on headdresses. What animal is she associated with and does she take as her symbol? Hint

Falcon

Jackal

Cat

Cobra

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. One last god is the god of the desert and chaos. This god was symbolized by an unknown animal. It is possible that this animal is purely mythological. Some have theorized that it is similar to an aardvark or an anteater. Some have even gone so far as to say that it was a rare animal that went extinct in ancient times. Which god is associated with this mysterious animal? Hint

Osiris

Ptah

Mentju

Set

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This animal was particularly important in Ancient Egypt for killing certain pests. These animals were the symbol of the goddess Bast. What common animal am I talking about?

Answer: Cats

Cats were originally domesticated in Egypt to help protect granaries from vermin such as mice and rats. After a long time of domestication their nature became more friendly and they became pets as well. Some were even mummified and viewed as sacred.

2. The ancient city of Hermopolis (Magna) is known for keeping this animal sacred. It is considered the symbol of the god, Thoth. What is this fairly common Egyptian animal?

Answer: Ibis

Archaeologists have even found mummified ibises at this site. Hermopolis was the cult center of worship for Thoth. The Greek associated Thoth with their god Hermes, hence the name of the city.

Answer: Crocodiles

The name of the city was Crocodilopolis. They always kept a sacred crocodile called the Petsuchos. He was treated as a holy creature, adorned with jewels, and kept in a special "zoo."

4. A very important symbol is this bird which is always associated with kingship in ancient Egypt. This animal was usually associated with the god Horus. Which bird is this?

Answer: Falcon

Falcons are very common in pharaonic art and sculpture. The symbol of the falcon gives credit to the pharaoh's name. In the early period the name of a king or pharaoh was surrounded by a symbol called a serekh which was held by a falcon. This was later replaced by the cartouche, which had the same symbolism.

5. This animal was usually associated with the goddess Hathor. They both were symbols of life and motherhood. Which animal essential for Egyptian life is this?

Answer: Cow

Cows provided numerous useful goods for ancient Egyptians, especially meat and milk. Bulls were also very important for manual labor. The symbol of life, the ankh, is actually a vertebra bone from a bull or cow.

6. This animal often associated with the dead is this symbol of the god Anubis. Which is it?

Answer: Jackal

Jackals were thought to dig up dead bodies and eat them. This may be just a myth based on the uncharismatic appearance and behavior of the animals. Either way they became associated with the god Anubis, who is usually depicted with a jackal head. He was originally a god of the dead but was later associated more with mummification as Osiris took the place of god of the dead.

7. This Nile animal is one of the most ferocious in Egypt. The Egyptians hold that the first pharaoh of Egypt was killed by one of these animals. What is this dangerous animal?

Answer: Hippopotamus

Hippos are actually known to kill crocodiles quite often. As well as being huge, they don't have a pleasant temper. The story of the first pharaoh, named Menes, comes from the Egyptian historian Manetho. Most of his information about pharaohs of Egypt comes from Egyptian tradition.

8. Ancient Egyptians associated Khepri, an aspect of Ra, with this animal. It was thought that Khepri would roll the sun up in the sky everyday, similar to the behavior of this animal.

Answer: Scarab

The scarab, specifically the dung beetle, collects dung in a sphere and rolls it around. They do this to lay their eggs in it. This image was associated with Khepri rolling the sphere which is the sun in the sky every day. Scarabs were some of the most sacred animals in all of Egypt. Jewelry in scarab shapes was extremely common and often used as amulets to ward off evil.

9. Another goddess closely associated with an animal is Wadjet. Her symbol is commonly found on headdresses. What animal is she associated with and does she take as her symbol?

Answer: Cobra

Wadjet originally was the protector of the city of Buto in the Nile Delta. She later became a protector of all of Egypt and is found on the nemes headdress which pharaohs were often depicted wearing.

Answer: Set

Set or Seth is usually associated with bad things, in particular foreign invaders (especially the Hyksos), the desert from which they came, and the lack of order which came with their period of rule. Set is usually portrayed with a long snout and dark skin. Since it doesn't match any other animal perfectly, it is usually referred to as the Set-animal or Set-beast.

Source: Author theskink

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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