Avis de soutenance - doctorat - Jonathan MAÎTRE

This thesis explores the place of birds of prey in ancient Egypt, at the intersection of zoology and culture. Drawing on faunal remains and human representations—art objects, writing signs, and texts—it highlights the role of five major figures from the animal world: the large vulture, the small vulture, the medium-sized eagle, the powerful large falcon, and the great owl. These predators, observed in their natural environments, became in the pharaonic imagination emblems of power, protection, and the connection between heaven and earth. The study reveals how the ancient Egyptians interpreted these birds through their beliefs, blending naturalistic observation with a symbolic, “naturalizing” worldview.