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Cattle: types

There are four types of cattle depicted in Egyptian art (click on the images for larger pictures). Bulls were castrated (i.e. oxen) for agricultural work or traction.

long horned cattle, often shown as tall, lean with inverted horn, often used in religious sacrifices for meat
short horned, known since Old Kingdom, but popular from the New Kingdom on
hornless breed; known since the Old Kingdom, also common later
hump-backed cattle, Zebu, introduced to Egypt from Syria during the New Kingdom
UC 14284, relief Old Kingdom
UC 22547, amulet: cow
UC 10719
UC 45200, faience inlay showing a zebu, New Kingdom

 

 


 

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