Are there any sacred African animals?

**Askari Kwesi Amini** · 08-15-2006

I'm just wondering, are there any sacred animals? In egytion drawings I always see people with animal heads and I've heard they have their pets buried with them when they died too, so I was thinking maybe that may have somthing 2 do with it. Just wondering.

**Revolutionary_Student** · 08-15-2006

Originally Posted by Askari Kwesi Amini

I'm just wondering, are there any sacred animals? In egytion drawings I always see people with animal heads and I've heard they have their pets buried with them when they died too, so I was thinking maybe that may have somthing 2 do with it. Just wondering.

I believe (if I'm not mistaken) their cats were sacred pets in ancient Egypt.

**BlackQueen** · 08-15-2006

You are correct. Cats were just domestic pets to chase away mice,but later were considered sacred.

Originally Posted by Revolutionary_Student

I believe (if I'm not mistaken) their cats were sacred pets in ancient Egypt.

**Nesayem** · 08-15-2006

A have a book here that explains Egypt for young people( I need to go on ahead and donate these things to the library or something). At this time its what I have available so were just going to work with it. Some examples the reading pointed out are

~Sometime statues of underworld gods were placed in the tombs in the Valley of the Kings.With their power to ward off evil, they were meant to protect the king as he traveled thrrough the underworld. These gods had the heads of creatures such as tortoises, hippos, and rams.They were very different from other animal-headed deities that flourished above ground.

~Many of the Gods were represented as animals.A baboon might be Thoth ( god of wisdom) or Khonsu ( the moon god) at another temple.

~The sun god might be Khepri at dawn ( the scarab beetle rolling the sun disk across the eastern horizon) and later become Re-Harakhty ( the great hawk soaring across the sky).

~ The cat goddess Baset was the daughter of Re the sun god.She represented the power of the sun to ripen crops.

~The ram head god Khnum presided over hazardous Nile accidents.

~The valley was thought to be protected by a goddess called Meretseger, who was portrayed as a Cobra.

~ The lion was a creature of the sun god and so emphasized the kings role as the son of Re.The lions's strength also suggest the monarch's great power.

~ Cattle was used as a measure of wealth

~ Children sometimes wore fishshaped amulets in their hair, possibly to guard against accidents in the Nile

Throught this book there are pictures of Horus w/ numerous animals, along with a prietess and a Re-Harakhty ( falcon head god) carrying an ankh, an art work done with animal figures. Each animal means something different. For example a male hippo was an evil omen(they could overturn a boat) and a lion represents strength and domination. So there are some very powerful connections between daily life and animals.

**MamaDahomey** · 08-15-2006

yes indeed, im pretty sure that at in Sumatra elephants are considered sacred, In Egypt I belief cats are, as well as in some parts of Kenya. In Benin snakes are regarded as sacred but that tradition is not native to therm, rather adopted from their "conquerors" who were snake workings pirates the "whydah's". Interesting enough you can see the stamp of the serpents carved on their stools and other productions till this day. Needless to say, in many parts of Benin snakes are still considered to be sacred.

**Revolutionary_Student** · 08-16-2006

Originally Posted by MamaDahomey

yes indeed, im pretty sure that at in Sumatra elephants are considered sacred, In Egypt I belief cats are, as well as in some parts of Kenya. In Benin snakes are regarded as sacred but that tradition is not native to therm, rather adopted from their "conquerors" who were snake workings pirates the "whydah's". Interesting enough you can see the stamp of the serpents carved on their stools and other productions till this day. Needless to say, in many parts of Benin snakes are still considered to be sacred.

Interesting indeed!

**IfasehunReincarnated** · 08-16-2006

Yes, there are sacred animals in all Afrikan spiritual traditions.

**Revolutionary_Student** · 08-16-2006

Originally Posted by IfasehunReincarnated

Yes, there are sacred animals in all Afrikan spiritual traditions.

Brotha Ifa!

Where you been hiding comrade?! Nice to hear from you again!

**Majadi** · 08-16-2006

I am pleased with this conversation as I have wondered this myself but with all the other research I do I have not vested time in this subject. Maybe someone can assist me with a dream I had once (and it wasn't rooted in the Amerkkkan dream either!!!) During this dream I was standing next to a river but simultaneously in a Savannah in Afrika and I saw a Hippopotamus in the river and a Rhinocerous in the Savannah and they both stared at me. Needless to say at first they scared the fecal matter from my person. Soon thereafter my fear dissipated and the three of us had a staring contest until I awakened.

I usually write my dreams down to find a connection with them but this one seems to stand alone as there was no other activity. Could this relate to some sacred animal concept?

**Revolutionary_Student** · 08-16-2006

Originally Posted by Majadi

...I was standing next to a river but simultaneously in a Savannah in Afrika and I saw a Hippopotamus in the river and a Rhinocerous in the Savannah and they both stared at me. Needless to say at first they scared the fecal matter from my person....

L

L! I'm sorry. The dream sounds very deep but this part is just hilarious.

**Majadi** · 08-16-2006

Go ahead beloved laugh it up...but I'd like to see how "Revolutionary" of a student you would be if you saw a Hippo and a Rhino simultaneously...(lol)(lmao).

**Revolutionary_Student** · 08-16-2006

Originally Posted by Majadi

Go ahead beloved laugh it up...but I'd like to see how "Revolutionary" of a student you would be if you saw a Hippo and a Rhino simultaneously...(lol)(lmao).

LOL! You're right! Ok, I'm sorry.