Mummified Dog Found in Egyptian Tomb
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(May 1) – Some 2,300 years ago, an Egyptian was laid to rest with his best friend at his feet.
That friend, scientists in Pennsylvania say, was something akin to a Jack Russell terrier, Discovery News reports.
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Staff at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology used a CT scan to determine that a small bundle found in the tomb of an ancient Egyptian contained the remains of a puppy.
The tomb was inscribed with the phrase “Hapi-Men,” which translates to “The Apis bull endures,” according to Discovery. The Apis bull was a divine figure in ancient Egypt.
The inscription inspired archaeologists to nickname the man buried there “Hapi-Men” and the pooch “Hapi-Puppy.”
While early Egyptians were known to preserve birds, cats and even crocodiles, they rarely did so with dogs, making Hapi-Puppy one of the rarest mummified animals.
Because of Hapi-Puppy’s young age, researchers believe the animal was killed upon his master’s death, Discovery reported.
“In this case, we think Hapi-Men simply wanted to be buried with his beloved pet,” said Jennifer Wegner, a senior research scientist in the museum’s Egyptian section.
admin @ May 2, 2009