After looking at some images from Egypt, especially the Old Kingdom, I am convinced that the Egyptians had practiced an early form of botany and zoology:
It is interesting to note that the details with which plant and animal life is executed in Egyptian tombs going back to the old kingdom, shows an excellent understanding of botany. It may be that these images are almost learning tools, as much as botanical drawings were used in the times of the early European Explorers around the world. To say the least, there must have been a common reference that the artists used when wishing to draw certain plant forms in order to render them so accurately.
Further Evidence comes from the temple of Denderah, which shows evidence the Egyptians had understood something about plant reproductive systems:
Commonly called the denderah light bulbs, these images have nothing to do with electricity and everything to do with plant reproductive systems. Anyone who knows anything about Egyptian symbolism knows that Isis and Horus are a symbol of female reproduction, i.e. childbirth. Looking at the image of the snake, in the center of the plant, means that the snake represents new life rising out of the womb of the plant. Obviously this shows that the Egyptians understood that the gynoecium, plant ovary, was the basis of plant reproduction in flowering plants. The gynoecium contains the ovaries of flowering plants, it is the feminine side of the plant reproductive system. Hathor and Isis were mistresses and childbirth with the symbol of Isis being the knot of Isis or the ovaries. When birds or bees carry the pollen (seed) from a male plant to a female flower, it pollinates the plant, causing seeds to form which then are carried by wind, insects and birds to fertile soil, where they germinate and form new plants. This was understood by the Egyptians as the symbol of resurrection, or new life, in the Osirian passion play, was of Isis coming down as a bird and receiving the pollen of Osiris (sperm) and going forth to produce Horus. Osiris is the god of vegetation and pollen is the sperm of plant reproduction. Also note that pollen is produced from the center of flowers as well. Horus was said to be born out of the lotus blossum, which means he was born from the female reproductive system of the flower as the seed of new life. OBVIOUSLY, this is not merely mystical symbolism, but also reflects a deep understanding of the processes of LIFE itself, in many aspects. Note also that Gynoecium is shares the same root as the word Gynecology, which is the science related to human female reproductive systems. The Temple of Hathor in Dendera has one of the few surviving examples of "birth houses" in Egypt, which much like a gynecology ward in the modern sense, where the "mysteries" of female reproduction were studied and children were born, literally and symbolically.
From the mastaba tomb of Kagemni, from the Old Kingdom, scenes of hunting, capturing, keeping and force feeding animals:
Geese in hexagonal nets:
Not much different than the netted fences seen in zoos and farms today. Again, the detailed execution of the various wildlife shows the Egyptians were very familiar with animal biology and also had reference material to draw from in drawing such detailed images. Not to mention the fact that they also practiced animal mummification and probably also practiced some form of animal medication, to care for the holy animals of the temple, personal pets and farm animals.
The Egyptians also produced hand made ANIMAL FOOD for various animals. This food was sometimes FORCE fed to various animals, using the food formulas and recipes they made. It means the Egyptians were some of the first to produce man made animal feed.... Force feeding of various animals animal feed made by hand:
Force feeding Hyenas: http://www.osirisnet.net/mastabas/kagemni/photo/kagemni_tb_composition.jpg Note a symbol that looks like a very early form of a concept that became identified with osiris (going back to animal/plant husbandry and farm reproduction, i.e. "osiris as lord of the grain" or "mana of heaven". It may be that this is an early scarecrow, used to guard the fields against birds....):
^ This is not surprising at all considering the Egyptians' own spiritual beliefs concerning the sacredness of life and the spirits inherent to all living things.
By the way, I recall a belief that the Egyptian white and red crowns represent organs of flowers.
Posted by Doug M (Member # 7650) on :
^^First I have heard of that, but then again it makes sense.
Of course, it gives the title "he of sedge and bee" a whole different meaning referring to pollination activities concerning bees and sedge plants and agriculture. Note how the disappearance of the honey bee in the U.S. has started causing alarm.
Posted by Djehuti (Member # 6698) on :
^ The 'sedge' in a pharaoh's title represented Upper Egypt, while the 'bee' symbolized Lower Egypt.
Also, Honey bees in the U.S. are disappearing or rather being displaced by Africanized Honey bees. I find this ironic, because the Honey bee of the U.S. is actually the European honey bee which was brought to North America by European settlers. In fact, did you know many Native Americans who (unlike the white settlers) were conscious of the environment, actually saw European honeybees as bad omens-- settlers invading new territory. Now you have an African hybrid introduced again by Westerners. They produce more honey than European ones, but of course they are much more aggressive and not as easy to handle.
