Leopards, a Symbol of Royalty and Divinity
People in Egypt have been observing the natural world since long before they built the pyramids. In ancient Egyptian society, leopards represented determination and power; the animal's representation in the tomb was likely intended to strengthen the spirit of the recently deceased for the journey to the land of the dead. Priests required specific items of dress, one of which was the pelt of a leopard. Fastened over a shoulder or hanging down the back, the leopard skin served as a powerful symbol of regeneration, particularly relevant for priests conducting rituals carried out on behalf of the dead. Some ranks of the Egyptian priesthood wore leopard-skin mantles, or cloaks, while performing their official duties, marking them as high priest. Tutankhamun, who was in theory the high priest of every god, was buried with this type of mantle. Depictions suggest that priests wore actual pelts, but nearly all the rare surviving examples are made from painted linen. In ancient times, the ...