Monkeys

In Ancient Egypt, due to their similarity to humans, it was believed that baboons were deceased ancestors and particularly alpha males were considered deceased rulers. Accordingly, Narmer, the Early Dynastic king and first king of a unified Egypt was often depicted as a baboon. Babi was the deification of the baboons, considered the chief of the baboons. As baboons were considered deceased ancestors, Babi was therefore an underworld deity where, following the aggressive example of baboons, his role was to devour the souls of the unjust. Similarly, following the libidinous example of baboons, Babi is often depicted with an erection and ensures the continued virility of the dead. As well as Babi, Thoth, the scribe of the gods, usually depicted with the head of an Ibis, is occasionally seen in baboon form as Aani, the god of equilibrium who reported the weighing of deceased’s heart in the underworld.