The hyaena in dynastic Egypt: Fancy food or fantasy food?

The extensive city of Tell el‐Amarna was constructed by the Pharaoh Akhenaten, and occupied for only 15 years until his death in 1332 BCE. Among the sites excavated, there is the ‘Workmen's Village’, a small detached village with closely grouped houses, yards and animal pens. Among the identified animal bones excavated from there are those of the striped hyaena, Hyaena hyaena . Tomb and temple scenes, mainly from the Old Kingdom, show hyaenas as ritual offerings or associated with hunting events, even under close husbandry, restraint and special feeding. The meaning of these scenes is considered in relation to the definite evidence for butchery and muscle stripping seen on these bones. Hyaena meat may well have posed a threat to the consumer as a probable carrier of trichinosis, a disease now known from mummified human tissues from ancient Egypt. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.