This week we were able to read chapter nine titled “The Third Intermediate Period and Late Period” from the textbook An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt by Kathryn A. Bard. In this chapter it touches on the Third Intermediate Period and Late Period as the chapter title states. I found this chapter to be very interesting. The section that I found most interesting was the section titled “Saqqara: The Serapeum and Animal Cults”. The section opens up talking about the animal bull. The author states how the bull was symbolically associated with the Egyptian King from early times and represented different cults. There were burials of bulls found at Saqqara date to the later 18th dynasty, which was during the reign of Amenhotep Ⅲ. Located near the northwest of djoser’s Step Pyramid, was the Serapeum. The Serapeum is where the Apis bulls burial is. ”About 450 meters to the northeast of the Serapeum Walter Emery found underground galleries with the burials of mummified ibises while excavating much earlier tombs in north Saqqara in 1964. To the north of this are galleries for burials of the Isis cows (mothers of the Apis bulls), and there are also subterranean galleries with mummified baboons, falcons, and more ibises.” (Byrd, 304) There were also other animals discussed throughout this section. I found this section interesting because we get to read about animal burials and mummification, which we don’t hear about often. Today, animals play a huge role in humans life. It is not common to mummify animals such as cats or dogs. Larger animals such as cattle and pigs are used for other purposes such as food. People may choose to have burials for their beloved pets, but that is the most that happens. This shows to me that humans has always been connected to different animals. Also in this section, it talks about the reasons why these animals were mummified. There is evidence that shows rituals were performed while mummifying these animals. “The pilgrims left the mummified animals (both real and faked) as offerings to these cults, which may have been associated with the osirian cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and associated concepts of fertility and procreation. But cemeteries of mummified animals are known throughout Egypt from late dynastic times onward” (Byrd, 305-306) I pulled this quote because it touches on the cults and their rituals. Byrd believes that represented the cycle of life and death. I think this is so interesting and have many questions about the processes of the mummification the animals. Also, why did they choose the animals that they choose to mummify and etc. Did all the animals have a connection to the Egyptians, like the bull had with Egyptian kings?