The traditional Egyptians held a posh relationship with numerous professions, and the occupation of shepherd was considered with specific disdain. This sentiment stemmed from a mixture of financial, social, and non secular components. The notion of those pastoralists was considerably detrimental, setting them other than different members of Egyptian society.
The explanations behind this aversion are multifaceted. Egypts agricultural system relied closely on settled farming practices centered across the Nile River’s predictable floods and irrigation. Nomadic or semi-nomadic herding practices had been typically seen as disruptive to this established order. Competitors for sources, notably land and water, between farmers and herders probably contributed to the animosity. Moreover, some students counsel that shepherds could have been related to overseas or invading teams, additional fueling detrimental perceptions. The potential for livestock to break cultivated fields and irrigation works would even have been a major concern. The affiliation with perceived instability and potential battle positioned them at odds with the values of a secure, agriculturally-dependent society.