Animals in religion

ten epidemics sent down on Egypt according to Exodus chapters 7 to 10

thumb|250px|right|A cynocephalus. From the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493). The characteristic of cynocephaly, or cynocephalus (), having the head of a canid, typically that of a dog or jackal, is a widely attested mythical phenomenon existing in many different forms and contexts. The literal meaning of cynocephaly is "dog-headedness"; however, that this refers to a human body with a dog head is implied. Such cynocephalics are known in mythology and legend from many parts of the world, including ancient Egypt, Libya, Greece, India and China. Further mentions come from the medieval East and Europe.

Sugriva (, ), is a character In the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana. He is the younger brother of Vali, whom he succeeded as ruler of the vanara kingdom of Kishkindha. He is a son of Surya, the Hindu deity of the sun. As the king of the vanaras, Sugriva aided Rama in his quest to liberate his wife Sita from captivity at the hands of the rakshasa king Ravana.

thumb|250px|Fish-shaped door handle from Germany, an example of a zoomorphic artwork In the context of art, zoomorphism describes art that imagines humans as non-human animals. It can also be defined as art that portrays one species of animal like another species of animal or art that uses animals as a visual motif, sometimes referred to as "animal style". Depicting deities in animal form (theriomorphism) is an example of zoomorphism in a religious context. The word zoomorphism derives from and .

Ancient Italian dedication practice for colonies

slaughter of cows and bulls in India

Ceremonial blessing of companion, agricultural, or working animals

theme of several works of poetry

ravens in world culture

belief found in many indigenous Mesoamerican cultures that a person upon being born acquires a close spiritual link to an animal, a link that lasts throughout the lives of both creatures

thumb|250x250px|Chickens at Ise Grand Shrine. Parishioners believe they are messengers of [[Amaterasu.]] are animals in Japanese mythology that are believed to be associated with a , a divine being. These animals are also known as or . In ancient texts such as and , there are tales of special animals that acted on behalf of the to transmit the divine will or to bear oracles.