An Egyptian Bestiary

It is no insult to this volume to describe it as a “coffee table” book. It is a large format volume superbly illustrated, in colour throughout, presenting a window on how animals appear and were used in Egyptian art. Animals were very important to the Egyptians, although whether it is possible to substantiate Germond’s statement that “Of all the civilizations of the ancient world none enjoyed such a close and significant relationship with the animal realm as that of the Ancient Egyptians” is a subject that could be discussed extensively! Nevertheless, it is true that the Egyptians made extensive use...