From an Immigrated Bird to a Deity: Pelican in Ancient Egyptian Sources

Document Type : Original Research Articles

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Abstract

This paper traces the role of Pelican in daily life and his influence in ancient Egyptian
religion. His appearance in the wall of tombs and temple of the sun and also the reluctance
of Egyptian to eat him save his egg. This immigrated bird was known in ancient Egypt
since the Predynastic period. Although his short stayed in Egyptian land and rarely
depicted in Egyptian tombs, regarded as a deity, and mentions more than once in the
Pyramid and Coffin Texts, and by one spell in the Book of the Dead. He had a magical
powers and assimilated with resurrection and the birth of the sun.

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