The Cat

• The cat is considered sacred to the Egyptian goddess Bastet, who is represented as having the body of a woman and the head of a feline. Cats were held in such esteem in Ancient Egypt that the penalty for killing one, even accidentally, was death. These pets were sometimes buried with their owners and were mummified with the same materials that were used to preserve their human caretakers, another sign of the esteem in which they were held.
  
  

The Jackal

• Jackals were often found living on the outskirts of towns, living as scavengers. Because these animals were frequently spotted roaming around in cemeteries, they became associated with the Egyptian God Anubis, who was believed to preside over the preservation of the dead. Anubis is represented as having the head of a jackal and the body of the human. Ancient Egyptians believed that by worshiping Anubis, their graves would be protected from the scavenger jackals.
  
  

The Cobra

• The cobra is often seen in Egyptian art as a uraeus, which is a stylized depiction of the snake, shown rearing up as if poised to attack. The uraeus was thought to be created by the goddess Isis and said to have protective powers, allegedly used by Isis to help her husband Osiris become king. Egyptian royal headdresses often incorporated the cobra. The uraeus is also a symbol of lower Egypt and the sun.
  
  

The Scarab

• This regal and imposing looking insect used in Egyptian art and jewelry is actually a stylized depiction of the lowly dung beetle. The scarab is associated with the god Khepera, since this god was believed to push the sun along the sky in the same way that the scarab pushed along the dung that it used both as housing and food. They Egyptians often buried their dead with a scarab amulet over their heart as a way to protect them from harm during the final judgment.
  
  

The Horse

• The horse is believed to have been domesticated as early as 2000 B.C., and Ancient Egyptian art is filled with images of the powerful animals. They're sometimes depicted as leading the chariot of a leader, or rearing back during a war scene. For this reason the horse is associated with the ruling classes, such as Pharaohs or military leaders. The Egyptian Arabian horse is highly prized for its pure pedigree.