UC Irvine

This thesis explores the evolution of serpopards, an ancient Egyptian mythological creature, through ancient Egyptian art to contemporary art. In ancient periods, including Predynastic, Early Dynastic, and Middle Kingdom, serpopards were depicted on palettes, apotropaic wands, a bowl, and a feeding cup to convey themes of power and protection. While they had similar themes in each period, these themes were depicted in different forms and contexts. In contemporary art, serpopards are present in games and fursonas, in which they are used as monsters for story building and creatures to modify for self-expression. Their modern usage is indicative of how ancient Egyptian culture is received in mass culture. Many of the contemporary examples are presented in an aggressive and ferocious manner, taking on a new twist of the predatory nature of ancient depictions of serpopards. I argue that while each depiction of serpopards varies greatly, there are many similarities that can be connected. Ancient art still has a strong influence on modern visual depictions.