Butterflies in Ancient Egypt

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The butterfly is thought to be an example of the ancient Egyptian use of an insect motif purely for its own beauty rather than as a symbol of religious or mythological significance. Butterflies were often depicted in tomb paintings of marsh scenes throughout the Dynastic Periods. Some of these reliefs and paintings show great attention to detail so that particular species of butterflies still represented in the present-day butterflies of the region can be easily recognised.

The species most often depicted on these ancient reliefs is a large and impressive butterfly called Danaus chrysippus, which is a close relative and very similar in appearance to the familiar Monarch or Milkweed butterfly (Danaus plexippus) of North America (occasionally also found in parts of northern Africa and Europe).

The butterfly motif was also used in jewellery design. The most famous butterfly motifs being found on the exquisite bracelets of Queen Hetepheres I, the mother of Khufu and wife of Snofru, Fourth Dynasty (2613 – 2494 BCE). The fine jewellery belonging to princess Khnumet which was discovered at Dashur contains a beautiful gold butterfly pendant. There have also been several amuletic artefacts resembling butterflies found in excavations at the royal necropolis and pyramid complex at Lisht . Although these are so stylised that their identification as butterflies is open to question.