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Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures

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A leading research center for the cultures of ancient West Asia and North Africa that houses a world-renowned museum.

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When depicting animals that have were no longer living in places such as Egypt or Sudan, it becomes evident that the artist is unfamiliar with the actual animal. Here, in the tribute scene of Huy (Theban Tomb 40) dating from the reign of Tutankhamun, we see here Nubians delivering tribute, including cattle and at a giraffe. While the giraffe is correctly drawn with a long neck, the artist was unaware that the giraffe would have been spotted and therefore drew it a solid brown. Solid brown spotless giraffes are extremely rare, such as Kipekee at the Brights Zoo in Limestone, TN, making it unlikely that if a giraffe was actually presented as a gift by the Nubians, that the Egyptian artist drew an actual giraffe they saw. ⁠⁠https://isac.uchicago.edu/bestiarynubia by @isac_uchicago

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Robert Ritner's contribution to the study of ancient Egyptian magic did not stop with his book and many articles on the subject. He is also responsible for the magic case in the Egyptian gallery at the ISAC Museum. He selected the objects that were to go on display (those of you who know his book may see some familiar friends here) and wrote all the detailed labels. While he is not named in this case, it reflects his understanding of ancient Egyptian magic and allows him to reach thousands of museum visitors every year and share that knowledge with them. by @isac_uchicago

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Ancient Egyptians imagined the manifestation of a person's being after their death as their "ba," which is often translate as the "soul" of the deceased. The ancient Egyptians imagined this manifestation as a human-headed bird, as we see here in the papyrus of Padiamon. In the time of Pinedjem II, who was High Priest of Amun in Dynasty 21, Padiamon held, among other titles, that of God’s servant of Amun, Overseer of the Secrets, Chief lector priest of Amun. This photograph comes from the Thomas George Allen papers in the ISAC archives. The text above and behind the ba bird says: "Osiris, Prophet of Amon Padiamon, the justified one. May they grant (his) coming forth as a living soul to see the disk when it rises."⁠⁠https://isac.uchicago.edu/bestiarynubia by @isac_uchicago

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Robert Ritner made a considerable contribution to the field of Egyptology, not least because of his 1993 book, "The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice" published by ISAC as part of the Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization series. Although the term "ground-breaking" is often applied to various studies, in this case the description was accurate. Based on his PhD dissertation (you can see him in his cap and gown in this photograph with the late George Hughes and Janet Johnson), the book entirely changed the way people understood and studied ancient Egyptian magic. Today it remains a towering achievement and has gone through an impressive four printings. ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/ISACRitnerMechanicsAncientEgyptianMagicalPractice by @isac_uchicago

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If you go to the ISAC website, you can visit the page devoted to Robert Ritner's publications. Here, you can see Robert's considerable scholarship and read some of the articles that he wrote. They show the depth of his knowledge about ancient Egypt, everything from "Texts, Storms, and the Thera Eruption" written in 1996 with Karen Polinger Foster to "Jubilating Baboons and the Bes Pantheos" in 2022 and the 2008 "Some Problematic Bipartite Nominal Predicates in Demotic." The 2008 article, given at the Eighth International Congress for Demotic Studies in 2002, which features Robert's translation of 'Onchsheshonqy, 19/20: “It is the wise man who understands what passes before him." ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/ISACRobertRitnerPublications by @isac_uchicago

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Other mythological creatures are human-animal hybrids, such as this snake deity on a cylinder seal. Found at the site of Tell Asmar in the Diyala in Iraq, the cylinder seal shows a large half-human half-snake creature who is identified as a snake deity holding a mace with a long coiled tail. The deity stands between two trees and is being approached by a worshipper carrying a bucket. Frankfort and Jacobsen in their 1955 publication "Stratified Cylinder Seals from the Diyala Region", identify the deity with the god Ningishzida, who was associated with snakes and vegetation.⁠⁠ A11360, stone, Iraq, Akkadian period (2334-2154 BCE)⁠⁠https://isac.uchicago.edu/bestiarynubia by @isac_uchicago

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In addition to vanished creatures, ancient people also had mythical ones. In the case of this horse bit here from Iran, there are two winged ibexes. Ibexes, or wild goats, are typically known for their impressive horn. In Iran, the bezoar Ibex (Capra aegagrus aegagrus) has the longest horns in relation to its body weight of any animal. It is perhaps no wonder then that the ibex was re-imagined as a fantastical winged goat. The winged ibexes formed the cheek pieces of the bit with a central bar. ⁠⁠A7272, bronze, Iran, Iran Age (ca. 850–600 BCE)⁠⁠https://isac.uchicago.edu/bestiarynubia by @isac_uchicago

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Robert Ritner was a great orator, whether it was in talking to ISAC docents for docent training, delivering ISAC lectures, speaking at academic conferences, or giving classes to students at the University of Chicago. He had a remarkable ability to connect with his audience and to bring his love of Egypt to students, scholars, and the public. On the ISAC YouTube page there is a playlist specifically devoted to Robert's recorded lectures and podcasts and we invite you to listen to them. A particular highlight, which many still remember, was his lecture with Theo van den Hout, Arthur and Joann Rasmussen Professor Emeritus of Hittite and Anatolian Languages and Executive Editor, Chicago Hittite Dictionary Project, over who won the battle of Kadesh. You can explore more here: https://bit.ly/ISACRobertRitnerPlayList. by @isac_uchicago

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This week we're looking at vanished and mythical creatures inspired by the ISAC Museum special exhibition, "A Bestiary of Ancient Nubia"! The changing climate of Nubia has meant that creatures who once lived there, such as ostriches, are no longer found in Nubia today. This necklace, made from 102 ostrich eggshell beads along with faience and garnet beads, was found in a man's grave at Serra East. Ostriches were once attested in Nubia, but because of climate change and hunting, are no longer found there. ⁠⁠E24440, ostrich eggshell, faience, and garnet, Serra East, Pan Grave, 1850 BCE – 1600 BCE⁠⁠https://isac.uchicago.edu/bestiarynubia by @isac_uchicago

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Almost five years ago, on July 25, 2021, Robert K. Ritner, Rowe Professor of Egyptology passed away. This week we're celebrating Robert and his considerable legacy and how it continues to impact us to this day. As Sue Geshwender, the former Volunteer Manager at ISAC put it at the time, "One of his superpowers was sharing his knowledge of ancient Egypt with non-academics. He had a way of presenting complex topics in a digestible form, and people were left with a deeper understanding and desire to learn even more." In the second photo here, we see Robert with his constant companion, his dog Sheshonq, with whom he appeared in costume for Halloween parties. by @isac_uchicago

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Limited places remaining!There's still time to register for the 2026 ISAC tour of Egypt (November 14–29, 2026) led by renowned Egyptologist and ISAC Associate Dr. Emily Teeter! Click here to see the full itinerary and pricing: https://bit.ly/ISACEgypt2026 by @isac_uchicago

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Some pet animals are not actually domesticated, merely tamed. This is the case for pet lions, who are seen on a variety of ancient Nubian reliefs, accompanying Nubian rulers in battle or sitting under their chairs (such tame lions also appear in Egypt with Egyptian rulers). The difficulty of a tame lion of course, is that since it is a very powerful animal and is not domesticated, things have an opportunity to go very wrong when it interacts with people. The status of this sandstone lion, whether tame pet or a wild lion, is unclear. ⁠⁠E19855, sandstone, Nubia, medieval period (600–1400 CE)⁠⁠https://isac.uchicago.edu/bestiarynubia by @isac_uchicago

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