Even Baboons Praise the Creator

Dr. Alice C. Linsley

The baboon appears on many monuments along the Nile and on the walls and columns of Nilotic temples. Baboons were not native to the Nile Valley. They were brought there and kept in enclosures with high walls which may explain the apparent lack of sunlight that contributed to skeletal abnormalities.

The skeletal remains of mummified baboons in Gabbanat el-Qurud indicate that they suffered from lack of sunlight and unsuitable food for most of their lives. The site is referred to as the "Valley of the Apes." animals were born and raised in captivity. The proportions of males and females, and the presence of infants, suggest that this was a local breeding population to meet demand. The baboon was sacred symbol for the ancient Egyptians.

Gabbanat el-Qurud in the Valley of the Apes. Credit: Henri Georg, 1909

In their natural habitats, baboon communities have adequate food and exposure to sun. They are known to chatter at the crack of dawn. For the Nilotic people, who regarded the sun as a symbol of the High God, this behavior held religious significance.

In the Nubian relief above, baboons announce the rising of the sun, the symbol of the High God and his son HR (Horus in Greek). 

Over the heads of the baboons is the Shen hieroglyph, the symbol for eternity. The baboons flank an "Imperishable Star," a symbol of immortality granted to the faithful. In the Pyramid Texts we find this reference to the imperishable stars: "Oh HR [Horus], this hour of the morning, of this third day is come, when thou surely passeth on to heaven, together with the stars, the imperishable stars." (Utterance 667) Jesus said, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day..." (Lk 24:46) 

Between the baboons is a dung beetle. This creature navigates nocturnally by the light of the Milky Way. The Nilotes regarded the Milky Way as the path to the eternal Father Re. (Re in Ancient Egyptian means "Father.") That is why many were buried with scarabs over their hearts.

Above is the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak. Though originally with a ceiling, the hall was aligned to the Milky Way. Karnak was one of many prestigious Sun Temple complexes. Among them was Heliopolis, called "On" in Genesis 41:45. Heliopolis is mentioned in Isaiah 19:18 as one of five Egyptian cities that swore allegiance to the Lord of Hosts.

The image below is of a baboon responding to the rising sun. The image appears on a wall at one of temples at Karnak.

Most of the images of baboons show a species known as Papio hamadryas. These were large monkeys with a dog-like muzzle.

Some baboons were mummified as early as 3500 BC. Researchers discovered the mummified remains of baboons buried in the sand which preserved the bodies due to the dry conditions.

Related reading: The Dung Beetle and Heavenly Lights; BIBLICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: Hebrew Ruler-Priests at the Ancient Sun Cities; The Prestige of Biblical On