In ancient Egypt, cattle played a very important role in religious life. The Egyptians made a clear distinction between male and female cattle. Male cattle, if found to be clean, were allowed to be used for sacrifice. Male calves were also accepted for this purpose. However, female cattle were never sacrificed. They were considered sacred and belonged to the goddess Isis, one of the most honored deities in Egypt.
The Goddess Isis and the Cow
Isis was often represented in the form of a woman with the horns of a cow. This image was similar to how the Greeks depicted Io. Because of this strong connection between Isis and cattle, cows were respected more than any other animal in Egypt. Every Egyptian, without exception, showed deep respect toward cows and avoided harming them in any way Ephesus Guides.
This sacred status explains many Egyptian customs and strict rules about contact with foreigners, especially Greeks.
Separation from Greek Practices
Because Greeks regularly sacrificed and ate cattle, Egyptians avoided close contact with Greek tools and customs. No Egyptian, man or woman, would kiss a Greek. They would not use a Greek’s knife, spit, cooking pot, or cauldron. They also refused to eat the flesh of an ox, even if the animal was clean, if it had been cut using a Greek knife.
These rules were not based on hatred but on religious purity. Egyptians believed that using Greek objects could bring spiritual impurity, especially in matters involving cattle, which were sacred to Isis.
Burial of Dead Cattle
When cattle died naturally, the Egyptians followed strict burial rules. Female cattle were treated differently from males. When a female cow died, its body was thrown into the river. This was considered the proper and respectful way to return the sacred animal to the divine world.
Male cattle were buried instead of being placed in the river. They were buried in the outskirts of towns. One or both of their horns were left sticking out of the ground. These horns served as markers, showing where the animal had been buried Different Ways of Sacrifice in Egypt.
Collecting the Bones of the Oxen
After the bodies of the buried oxen had decayed, another ritual took place. At an appointed time, a boat arrived from an island called Prosopitis. This island was part of the Nile Delta and measured about nine schoenes around. Prosopitis contained several cities, and from one of them, called Atarbechis, the boats were sent out.
Atarbechis was a sacred city with an important temple dedicated to Venus. Because of this temple, the city held great religious importance. Groups of men traveled from Atarbechis to other towns. There, they dug up the bones of the buried oxen and carried them away.
A Shared Burial Place for Sacred Animals
The collected bones were taken back and buried together in one common place. This practice was followed carefully and respectfully. The same law applied to all other cattle as well. Egyptians did not slaughter cattle for food, as the law strictly forbade it.
