Ibis
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Lev 11:17, Deut 14:16)—a well-known bird of the marsh-dwelling kind, or of those living on riverbanks. The Law of Moses forbade eating it, regarding it as unclean. The ancient Egyptians saw in their river, the Nile, the giver and creator of all life, and accordingly deified it. In keeping with this belief, the ibis, which appeared in Egypt at the time of the river’s flooding as a reliable herald of the coming abundance, was held in special esteem and honor and was reckoned by them as a deity.