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What the Animal Kingdom Meant to Ancient Societies

Ancient Egypt, the Mayan civilization and ancient Rome all valued wild animals differently, between hunting, sacrificing and burying them with the dead.

By Sara Novak
Aug 2, 2022 2:30 PMAug 2, 2022 2:23 PM
Ancient lions
(Credit: AlexAnton/Shutterstock)

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Humans have always had a complicated relationship with the animal kingdom. And the wild animals we see today have been around for millennia, playing important roles in some of the most famous ancient civilizations.

They were sacred in Egypt and sacrificed in ancient Mayan society. Many of them fought to the death against the gladiators of ancient Rome. According to experts, wild animals have been praised, exploited, hunted and put on display since the dawn of time.

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