The Egyptians tried to domesticate all sorts of animals. This is more akin to early zoology and animal husbandry and not really specific to funerary practices. The purpose of putting the scenes in the tomb were to reflect on Kagemni's role in the Egyptian government and as a way of preserving memories for future generations. In Kagemni's tomb you see all sorts of animals being domesticated for various purposes: pleasure (hunting and as the menagerie that would have been part of the vast landscape of the temples), protection, hunting (there are other tombs showing hunting in caged areas, possibly stocked by hand) and eating.

I am not sure but it is possible that Hyenas could have been seen as good for hunting and protection. Maybe they were intended as guardians of sacred areas. I have seen suggestions that lions and other cats may have been domesticated for similar purposes.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/2007 09:25PM by Doug M.