Seeing their revered felines running haphazardly across the battlefield, the Egyptians chose to surrender, rather than killing the cats. In a battle between Persians and Egyptians, the former captured a large number of cats to use them against the latter. But if you think that modern folks are cat-crazy you should have been around in Ancient Egypt. These, according to archaeologists, were apparently domesticated cats, as people would not otherwise take trouble to go in the wild, look for dead cats, and mummify them. She was a warrior goddess, who led the pharaohs in warfare. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. However, she became Bastet, when she was portrayed fully as a cat. One such aspect is the peculiar relationship that the ancient Egyptians shared with felines―cats in particular. The latter had a calmer temperament and so was more commonly domesticated than its wilder relative. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. Cat wasn’t the only sacred animal in Egypt. Moreover, various DNA comparisons also suggest that many species of modern cats may have been descended from the Egyptian wildcat (Felis silvestris catus). Wooden and bronze statuettes of cats were also made and sold, especially for funerary purposes, but also sometimes for decorative purposes. The sanctity of felines in Egypt’s ancient times traces back to the belief that these animals have divine powers given by Bastet herself. While all the other ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses are depicted in the form of big cats―mainly lions―only Goddess Bast was represented as a domestic cat. Egyptian god Ra and goddess Bastet looked at the world through the cat eyes, and people could make their prayers heard via cats. Cats were called Mau in Ancient Egypt, and initially the animals attained an important place as the protectors of the country’s grain, as they killed rodents and snakes. I've written similar, attempting to accommodate the constraint of our style, but I am imagining something is firing correctly today may have an improvement. Learn about how cats were honored in Ancient Egypt. Here, in an accidental recovery in 1888, an Egyptian farmer stumbled upon thousands and thousands of cat mummies, buried underneath the desert sands. Located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, the land of Egypt comprises hot, sandy deserts crossed by the ever-meandering Nile that constantly makes its way into the Me… The worship of cats in Egypt has been a topic of fascination for many cat owners and lovers. The most widespread belief was that domestic cats carried the divine essence of Bastet (or Bast), the cat-headed goddess who represented fertility, domesticity, music, dance and pleasure. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Besides these graceful hunters, Egyptians also considered sacred black bulls, falcons, crocodiles, jackals, ibises, sheep and some other animals and birds. We hope you enjoy this website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The latter one had the lion head while Bast has the cathead. The cult at Bubastis became so huge during this time, that the name of the city became almost synonymous with the name of the goddess. Ancient Cat in Today's Egypt What is surprising is that all these pet cats were never named, they were just cats. Several ancient Egyptian deities were depicted and sculptured with cat-like heads such as Mafdet, Bastet and Sekhmet, representing justice, fertility and power. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. As we know from archeological evidence, cats … Cats were held in very high esteem by the ancient Egyptians. They Loyally Join Along in Activities. Though hard for many people to believe, cats would often join … Moreover, the men of the household would shave their eyebrows to express their sorrow. Facts about egyptian cats 7: One of the civilization’s figures of worship, bastet, was known as the cat goddess. If we consider lions as cats, the cult of the Lion-headed Goddess, Sekhmet, was prominent. Animals were revered for different reasons. The Cat in Ancient Egypt is an informative and entertaining work that will delight cat lovers and history buffs alike. According to Herodotus, the population of cats in and around the temple of Bubastis was so large that, in order to control it, these felines were regularly sacrificed to the goddess. The Egyptians worshiped a huge pantheon of gods and goddesses, with the inclusion of various sacred animals. Cats were highly regarded in Ancient Egypt, which is evidenced by the overwhelming presence of cats in Egyptian art. There were two main breeds of cat native to Ancient Egypt. Herodotus wrote that in Ancient Egypt, the pet cat was considered as another member of the family. Fittingly, a bust of Sakhmet is the first object that greets visitors as they enter "Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt," an exhibition of Egyptian cat … 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Cats are traditionally believed to have been domesticated in Egypt during the Middle Kingdom (c. 1950 B.C.E.). Animals were revered for different reasons. The presence of tabby cats in ancient Egypt is further supported by a recent genetic study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. According to Egyptian mythology, gods and goddesses had the power to transform themselves into different animals. But, they were also held in high esteem for their aloofness and mysterious characteristics. Cats in ancient Egypt were mummified and buried in large quantities, hence held a special place in the culture of Ancient Egypt. She was the goddess of the home, domesticity, women's secrets, cats, fertility, and childbirth. Only one deity, the goddess named Bastet, had the power to become a cat. In this study … Bastet’s feline associations began to change around the same time as cats (known as miu or miit—he, or she, who mews) were being domesticated in Egypt… Bast was known as the cat goddess in Egypt. Even when a pet cat died, elaborate funerary rituals were held in its honor, and the entire family would go into deep mourning. The trend among the ancient Egyptians to domesticate cats may have begun when they realized the potential of these felines in safeguarding their food supplies. Famously devoted to these furry creatures —calling them miw onomatopoetically—the Egyptians mummified deceased cats and depicted them in paintings and sculptures. Dec 6, 2019 - Our love affair goes way back . In ancient Egypt, there were two different primary breeds: one the fierce jungle cats, the other the more peaceful African wildcats. Egyptians believed cats were magical creatures, capable of bringing good luck to the people who housed them. The Nile valley is one of the most fertile regions of the world, and it has been supporting human habitation since almost 9,000 years. Slowly and steadily, as the cult flourished even beyond Bubastis, the cat became a very important and common, sacred motif. Owing to the cat’s status as a guardian, it was then regarded as the sacred guardian of the Underworld. Two major cat lineages contributed to the domestic feline we know today, they report in a study published Monday in Nature Ecology & Evolution. Cats began to appear on objects, such as jewelry, clothing, mirror handles, etc. Cats in ancient Egypt were represented in social and religious practices of ancient Egypt for more than 3,000 years. There is ample historical and archaeological evidence to show that the cat was, indeed, an integral part of a standard ancient Egyptian household. The cult of the cat, as it was known, was functional in Egypt right since the 16th century BCE. Ancient Egyptian relief in Edfu Temple ( Wikimedia Commons ) These cats, however, were not as cats appear today—at least not at first. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, the land of Egypt comprises hot, sandy deserts crossed by the ever-meandering Nile that constantly makes its way into the Mediterranean sea. Safe Haven Egypt is a volunteer-run cat sanctuary that has been operating in Cairo since 2015. Ancient Egyptian cats had a sacred status in because of the religious beliefs of Egyptian society. It is absolutely fascinating how cats not only entered the common households of Ancient Egypt, but also occupied an important place in their religious realm. Cat, as a divinity, then came to be associated with fertility and motherhood, alongside her older domain of protection against evil. Women also favored cats as companions much the way modern people today look to pets for companionship. Cats, however, occupied a special space in Ancient Egypt. One woman is working to help save them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Even the export of cats was prohibited by law in Ancient Egypt, but they were often smuggled by Phoenician traders to be sold in the Mediterranean countries. Cats were so special that those who killed them, even by accident, were sentenced to death. Everyday Amr feeds stray cats because they cannot always find food for themselves. How Ancient Egypt’s beloved cats helped our feline friends colonise the planet. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. She protected a household from evil spirits and disease, especially diseases affecting women and children, and also played a role in one's afterlife. In a battle between Persians and Egyptians, the former captured a large number of cats to use them against the latter. Owing to this, the cult’s reach and popularity declined to a great extent. The two species eventually merged creating a new breed which was closely related to the modern Egyptian Mau. In 390 CE, cat worship in Egypt was officially banned by the Roman empire. Facts about Egyptian Cats 4: the role of Bast. As a sign of mourning, the cat owners shaved off their eyebrows, and continued to mourn until their eyebrows grew back. Bast was known as the goddess of motherhood and fertility. December 6, 2007—Egyptian Maus may descend from the first domesticated cats in the world. Each year, a festival was held at Bubastis in honor of the goddess, and people from every nook and corner of Egypt, flocked to the place. Cats were a popular pet in ancient Egypt and closely associated with the goddess Bastet (also known as Bast) who appears in Egyptian art with the body of a woman and the head of a cat or as a sitting cat in a regal pose. In the absence of enough evidence, it is rather difficult to estimate exactly when cats began to be domesticated, but we know for sure that the ancient Egyptians did have pet cats. The deity Mut was also depicted as a cat and in the company of a cat. “I am fascinated by cats,” Amr Mohamed, an 11-year-old boy said. See more ideas about Ancient egypt, Cats in ancient egypt, Egypt. This Historyplex post attempts to shed some light on the significance of cats in Ancient Egypt. Her role in the ancient Egyptian culture earned more importance than the goddess Mafdet over the years. Most tomb paintings representing household scenes have depictions of cats either playing, feeding, or just resting. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. These cookies do not store any personal information. Art from ancient Egypt shows statues and paintings of every type of feline. Bast was depicted as a young woman with a cat’s head. Today cats can be seen throughout Egypt, wandering in bazaars or asleep in shaded courtyards, evidence of an enduring relationship with humans that this book warmly captures. Thousands of years after cats in the Near East caught on, a second wave of cats began cohabitating with humans in Egypt. As far as native cats in Egypt there are two main breeds, one is the jungle cat which is called the Felis Chaus, and the other is the African wildcat. The Best History Museums to Virtually Tour During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Virtual Reality Experiences That Let You See History Up Close, The Most Accurate Movies Based on History Worth Seeing, Subaru History: How the Japanese Manufacturer Become World-Famous, Porsche History: From Humble Beginnings to High-Powered Luxury, How to Become a History Teacher: A Brief Guide to the Responsibilities and Requirements, Houston History: From Independence to the Modern Day. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! Their corpses were then mummified and sold to pilgrims as relics. However, there are several other aspects as well, which have managed to attract substantial amount of popular attention. Be they neonatal kittens, disabled adults or long-lost seniors, SHE strives to rescue, care and find homes for each and every cat that crosses its path. 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