Ostrich Egg and its Symbolic Meaning in the Ancient Egyptian Monastery Churches | ||
| مجلة الإتحاد العام للآثاريين العرب | ||
| Article 21, Volume 15, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 23-41 PDF (1.35 M) | ||
| Document Type: المقالة الأصلية | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jguaa.2014.3088 | ||
| Author | ||
| Sara El Sayed Kitat* | ||
| Lecturer in the Tour Guiding Department-Faculty of Tourism and Hotels Alexandria University"(Egypt) | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The Historical Origin of Ostrich Eggs in Ancient Egypt: Ostrich eggs have been known as a dietary supplement which contains a valuable amount of protein. This huge egg weights up to two kilograms and has a capacity of one liter or even more. The size of this kind of eggs equals the size of two dozen of hen’s eggs. The ostrich egg measures about fifteen by thirteen cm. The thickness of its layer is about two mm. Concerning the color of its smooth layer; it varies from tan to ivory. The Greek philosopher Aristotle described the ostrich to be the bird who lays the largest number of eggs. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Ostrich Egg; The Ancient Egyptian Monastery; Churches | ||
| References | ||
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- B. Laufer, “Ostrich Egg-shell Cups of Mesopotamia and the Ostrich in Ancient and
Modern Times”, Anthropology Leaflet, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 1926
(1), no. 23, pp. 4-5; D. Conwell, “On Ostrich Eggs and Libyans; Traces of a Bronze Age
People from Bates’ Island, Egypt”, Expedition, 1987, vol.29, no.3
- Ibid., p. 24; Laufer, op.cit., 1926 (2), p. 267; the ostrich bird was described by many
Greek writers. For example, Herodotus was the first Greek writer who mentioned the
ostrich and named this bird as “the bird remaining on the ground”. In addition, Strabo
talked about a small tribe near the Ethiopian city Darada called the Struthophagi meaning
“Bird- eaters”, referring to the ostrich. For further details see; Laufer, op.cit., 1926 (1), pp.
21-26; Laufer, op.cit., 1926 (2)
- Green, op.cit., p. 30; P. Remler, Egyptian Mythology A to Z, Infobase Publishing, New York, 2010, 3rd ed., | ||
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