Relief of a baboon unleashed to catch criminals

Hieroglyphs and artwork have survived the ages depicting Egyptian authorities using baboon on leashes to catch criminals, in much the way modern police would use a dog. The most surprising use for trained baboons was as police animals.

One shocking bit of classical Egyptian artwork depicts authorities unleashing a baboon on a thief in a marketplace, and the criminal begging them to call the animal off as it bites his leg.

Relief of a baboon unleashed to catch criminals — Hieroglyphs and artwork have survived the ages depicting Egyptian authorities using baboon on leashes to catch criminals, in much the way modern police would use a dog.

Scenes of daily life on tomb walls recalled the life of the deceased in this world. This part of the low-relief of Tepemankh is an example. A nude man is grasped round the legs by a large baboon. He is trying to keep the baboon away with his left arm. A second man is behind them. He is wearing a short kilt and holding a whip with one hand. On his other hand he leads a female baboon who is carrying a baby. There are still traces of color.

Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty, ca. 2498-2345 BC. Detail from the Mastaba of Tepemankh, Saqqara necropolis. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 37101