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Mythology
Fish in Egyptian Mythology
From sacred Oxyrhynchus fish to taboo Nile perch - fish held complex and contradictory roles in ancient Egyptian religion.
Era: Ancient Region: Ancient Egypt Year: -2500
📖 Overview
Ancient Egyptians had complicated relationships with fish. Some fish (Oxyrhynchus, elephantfish) were sacred and forbidden to eat because they were associated with the story of Osiris's dismembered body. Priests abstained from all fish. Yet ordinary people ate Nile perch, tilapia, and catfish daily; painted tombs depict elaborate fishing scenes with nets and lines. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) held its own symbolism as a mother-fish emblem of rebirth.