A myth is a traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people. A myth may explain aspects of the natural world or delineate the psychology, customs, or ideals of society
Ptolemaic
The Ptolemaic Dynasty ruled Egypt from 323 BC to 30 BC. It was a Macedonian or Greek dynasty in origin.
The statuette depicts an ichneumon, a type of mongoose, which is also referred to as the "Pharaoh's mouse."
It belongs to the carnivorous family of Viverridae that hunt mice, birds, and snakes. Their ability to catch snakes led them to be identified with the sun god Atum, who defeated the terrifying serpent Apophis.
The animal was considered a manifestation of several deities and became part of their mythological histories. The ichneumon appears in tomb paintings from the Old Kingdom and by the Middle Kingdom had developed into a sacred creature.
Many bronze statues of this animal have been found dating from the Late Period and the Ptolemaic Period.
