Invertebrates in Ancient Egyptian art: spiders, ticks, and scorpions

Invertebrates played a conspicuous role in the cultural lives of the ancient Egyptian people, from art to religion. Representations of butterflies, grasshoppers, and scarab beetles have been well documented, but arachnids have received less attention. Here the visual evidence for ticks, scorpions and spiders is examined and suggestions made about how these creatures were understood and received by the Egyptians. The meaning of animals in Egyptian art is discussed in light of these findings.