Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Pigs for the ancestors No pork ban in Ancient Egypt

Italian researchers have found a pig-related disease in a mummy, squashing a common belief that Ancient Egyptians had a dietary ban on pork .

Until now historians have found evidence suggesting ancient high priests in Egypt prohibited pig meat, in common with many Middle Eastern peoples who still don't eat pork today .

"It has hitherto been thought that there was a sort of religious-hygienic ban on eating pork in Ancient Egypt," said Pisa University historical pathologist Fabrizio Bruschi .


Actually, this is fairly well known (see this truly excellent paper for example). Pig bones are incredibly common in various Egyptian contexts, but usually, as stated in the article, in non elite contexts. See the references in the above paper for much information on the role of the pig in ancient Egypt.