A comparative study between the representation of quails in ancient and Byzantine Egypt

الملخص EN

Along the history, man was fascinated by birds and was keen on its representation since the pre-historic periods, the interest that continued along the ancient Egyptian history till nowadays.

Birds were depicted with its different types and sizes through representing their daily life scenes and their contact with each other's and with the man.

They appeared on the walls of the temples and tombs due to their religious connotations specified to the ancient Egyptian faith beside its role in forming a linguistic symbol of the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Birds' imagery was an obvious feature of the Egyptian art, starting from the primitive forms of its representation to the highest degree of perfection.

Egypt was famed by its various local fowl species beside the migratory one this was due to its location on the midway along the migratory route of some species of birds.

This location led to the appearance of many migratory birds on its land, among of which is the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) (the focus of the study), which is a small plump migratory bird with narrow wings and striped back.

It had a good opportunity in appearance in the ancient Egyptian art and formed a part in the Egyptian diet, continued in appearance during the Greco-Roman period, while with the Byzantine period its appearance gained a religious symbolic meaning beside its artistic appearance as will be discussed in detail through the research.