Life in Bible Times

Mammals

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Addax
Addax (the Pygarg)..

Ass
Ass bred in Palestine (Equus asinus)..

Asses
Wild asses or Onagers `who snuffed up the wind` in the vain hope of moisture in the air during a time of severe drought. An early photograph..

Camel
Camel drivers take their beasts to a trough by a well where they can drink. An early photograph..

Camels
Camels resting at the foot of the fortress of Masada..

Camel
Camel..
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Conies
Conies, one of the four small wise things (Proverbs 30,26). Its flesh is considered a delicacy by the Arabs. But `conies` are not easily caught. They are wise enough to make `their houses in the rocks` of inaccessible gorges.. They come out to feed at early morning and evening, and shrilly warn their fellows if alarmed. The cony is found throughout the mountainous areas of Israel.

Donkey
Donkey and foal at Tantur.

Donkey
Donkey near Bethlehem. Donkeys were very valuable for transport, especially in mountainous areas where they can walk sure-footedly..

Dormouse
This desert dormouse is one of the species referred to as `mouse` (Hebrew akbar)..

Egypt
Animals figurines from Egypt - Hedgehog, Cat and a Baboon head.

Gazelle
This gazelle fawn is feeding on its own, but the mother is a small distance away, keeping watch. Gradually the fawn learns independence..

Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can live even in deserts. In Zeph.2:14, hedgehogs are said to live among the ruins of Nineveh..

Ibex
The Ibex is found particularly among the rocks of Engedi. Sometimes they are translated as `wild goats` ( eg Ps.104:18)..

Leopards
Leopards were known to Israelites, but they were not common..

Lion
A Lion in a mosaic floor at the Byzantine Beth Gubrin. When this was made, lions were still found in Israel..

Lions
Lions used to be common in the forests of Israel. There have not been wild lions in Israel since the 11th century AD..

Unequally Yoked
This ox and ass are `unequally yoked`, because they work at different speeds with different strengths. This thresher has put his ox on the outside of a circular path, so that the ass has less work to do..

Porcupine
The porcupine is rarely seen because it sleeps all day in its burrow. It causes much crop damage, leaving some black and white spines behind as evidence..

Rabbit
The mosaic floor of the synagogue at Beth Alpha (6th C AD) showing a rabbit eating grapes..

Sheep
Sheep still graze throughout Israel, like these under an ancient olive tree. .

Lion Den
A lion being released for hunting, from an Babylonian Illustration. (Shows that lions were kept by Babylonians, as Daniel`s story suggests).

Antelope
Tachaitze antelope (Antilope barbata), Heb. TaChaSh, sometimes translated Badger, but should perhaps be translated Antelope, or perhaps Sea Cow..

Ass
Greater Wild Ass or Dziggetai (Asinus hemionus), Heb. PeReA or `aROD.

Bat
Barbastelle bat (Barbastellus communis).

Bear
Syrian bear (Ursus Syriacus).

Boar
Wild boar, which were common in Palestine. cf Ps.80.13.

Buffalo
Buffalo: a possible translation of Behemoth..

Bull
Wild bull (Antilope bubalis), Heb.TOA and TAO (Deut.14.5, Is.51.20).

Bull
Wild bull (Bos urus), as common in Europe.

Bull
Wild Bull (Bos gayaeus) or `ox`.

Camel
Dromedary, being used for hunting by Assyrians - the single-humped Arabian camel which is faster and lighter..

Camel
Bactrian camels - double humped and capable of carrying more loads oever greater distances..

Camel
Sole of a camel`s foot, with the fleshy cusion.

Camel
Dromedaries.

Cony
Conies.

Cony
Cony (Hyrax Syriacus).

Deer
Addax antelop (Orys addax), Heb. YaChMOR, translated fallow deer (Deut.14.5, 1King.4.23).

Deer
Hinds (Cervus elaphus).

Deer
Roe or Gazelle (Antilope dorcas) - Assyrian sculture.

Deer
Roe deer (Capreolus dorcas).

Deer
Roe or Gazelle (Antilope dorcas). Heb. Ya`LaH, TseBI, TseBIaH.

Deer
The hart.

Dog
Street dogs in Palestine.

Donkey
Egyptian donkeys.

Elephant
Elephant in Assyria.

Elephant
Egyptian elephant brought in tribute.

Elephant
Left: Indian Elephant (Elephas Indicus). Right: African Elephant (Elephas Africanus). . Both hunted for ivory which was a valuable item (Ezek.27.15, 1K.10.22, 2Ch.11.21, Ps.45.8, 1K.10.22, 2Chr.9.21, 2K.22.39, Am.3.15, 6.4) . Perhaps the Behemoth of Job 40.15

Elephant
Tribute of elephant tusks.

Fox
Common fox (Canis vulpes). Heb. ShU`aL, (Jud.15.4, Neh.4.3, Ps.63.10, Song.2.15, Lam.5.8, Ezek.13.4). This word means both fox and jackal.

Gazelles
Gazelles.

Giraffe
Giraffe, brought as tribute to Thothmes III.

Goat
Goat as the symbol of the Macedonians - cf Dan.8.5. This picture, from a pillar at Persepolis, shows a Persian leading a goat, sybolising Persia subjugating Macedonia. Macedonia finally conquered Persia under Alexander the Great..

Goat
Syrian Goat (Capra mambrica) Heb. `eZ (She Goat), `aTUD, TsaPhIR, TISh (all He Goat), GeDI (kid) Ssa`IR (Hairy Goat)..

Goat
Wild Goat - the Caucasian Ibex (Caprus aegagrus), Heb. Y`eLIM.

Goat
Goats treading the grain when sown in the field after the water has subsided..

Hare
Common Hare (Lepus timidus).

Hare
Hares, carried by an Egyptian.

Jackal
Jackal (Canis aureus). Heb. ShU`aL, (Jud.15.4, Neh.4.3, Ps.63.10, Song.2.15, Lam.5.8, Ezek.13.4). This word means both fox and jackal.

Jerboa
Jerboa (Dipus Egyptius) - one of the animals called `mice`, Heb. `aKBaR, Lev.11.29, Is.46.17, 1Sam.6.5).

Leopard
Leopard (Felis leopardus) Heb. NaMeR (Jer.5.6, 13.23, Hos.13.7, Hab.1.8, Is.11).. Several place names include NaMeR or NiMRah, such as Beth Nimrah `house of leopards` (Num.32.3,36, Josh.13.27), a stream nearby `Waters of Nimrim` (Is.15.6, Jer.48.34), `Mountains of Nimrim` (Song.4.8).

Lion
Syrian Lion (Felis leo). Heb. ARI, ARIeH, GOR, KePhIR, LaBIA, LaISh, ShaChaL. Frequent refs..

Mole
Mole (Lev.11.30).

Monkey
An Egyptian monkey (Cereopithecus Pyrrhonotus) which was kept by wealthy Egptians, and given in Tribute as unusual gifts - see 1K.10.22, 2Ch.9.21. Right: an Egyptian bringing a monkey in tribute to Sardanapalus I at Nineveh..

Mouse
Long tailed field mouse (Mus sylvaticus), Heb. `aKBaR, (Lev.11.29, 1Sam.6, Is.66.17).

Mule
Mule, with a rich bridle.

Mule
Top: Egyptian Mule. Bottom: Assyrian Mule. Heb. PeReD, PeReDaH. ReKeSh is also translated `mule` but was probably a swift camel. Bred from a horse and an ass. The Law prohibited hybridization (Lev.19.19) so mules had to be imported..

Pig
Swine (Sus scrofa).

Pig
Ethiopian hog.

Polecat
Polecat (Mustela putorius), a possible translation of Heb. ChoLeD (Lev.11.29), often translated Polecat (Mustela putorius).

Rhino
Rhinocerus (Rhinoceros simus), Heb RAM, sometimes translated `Unicorn` (Num.23.22, 24.8, Deut.33.17, Ps.22.21, 29.6, 92.10, Is.34.7, Job.39.9-12)..

Sheep
Broad-tailed sheep (Ovis laticaudatus). Many Hebrew words and refs..

Sheep
Srian sheep.

Skink
Skink (Scincus officinalis), Heb. ChoMeTt - the reptile in Lev.11.30 tanslated `snail` in the AV.

Vole
Field vole (Arvicola agrestis) Heb. `aKBaR, often translated `mouse` (Lev.11.29, 1Sam.6, Is.66.17).

Wolf
Wolf (Canis lupus), Heb. ZAB, Gen.49.27, Mt.7.15, Act.20.29, Jer.5.6, Hab.1.8, Zeph.3.3, Matt.10.16, Lk.10.3, Jn.10.12 etc.

Porcupine
Porcupine (Hystrix cristata).

Ram
Ram and one-horned goat united, symbolising the Persian and Macedonian kingdoms - A gem in the Florentine collection, perhaps carved for Alexander the Great..

Rat
Mole Rat (Aspalax typhlus), Heb.TiNSheMeTh (Lev.11.30), ChaPhoR PeROTh (Is.2.20).