When ancient Egypt is mentioned, many different historical artifacts, pyramids and Cleopatra as well as cat figures come to mind. The Egyptians respected other creatures with whom they shared the environment they lived in, especially cats had a special place in their homes and hearts. Cats also have an important place in Egyptian mythology. The Egyptian people regarded cats as divine beings and therefore they respected cats. The Cat Goddess Bastet was considered the protector of fertility, fertility and homes. The Egyptian people even continued the tradition of mummifying their dead cats.
This sacred status continued during the spread of domestic cats to Europe. Domestic cats were first brought to Europe by the Romans, where cats have a special place in many cultures. In medieval Europe, because cats were associated with witches, they once again had a dark image, but later became beloved and respected pets. Today, cats are still seen as cute and loving pets for many people. In addition, there are hundreds of cat species and breeds, and they are one of the most common household pets. Although the history of cats spans 20 million years, the relationship of domestic cats to humans is a much more recent phenomenon.
The Importance of Cats to the Ancient Egyptians
Farmers in the Nile valley discovered the ability of cats to catch mice after pests and mice were found in their warehouses. In this way, it was at this time that cats began to be sanctified in Egypt. As the barns overflowed, the mouse population increased, and the Pharaoh then declared the cats superior creatures to protect them. People began to worship cats because they believed that cats brought fertility and productivity to the home. Their love for cats was far greater than their interest for other animals. They cared more for their cats’ lives than their own. For example, they would save their cats first when their house was on fire, and they would grieve when the cats in their house died. During the mourning period, they would shave their eyebrows and continue their mourning until their eyebrows grow again.
The domestication of cats in Egypt had an impact on religion and belief systems as well as agriculture. For this reason, people’s love ties to cats were also quite strong. Farmers engaged in agriculture saw stray cats entering their homes as a solution to the snake and mouse problem that they could not cope with in the fields. Cats were regarded as guarding the harvest, harvested in areas where there was not much food abundance. Farmers began leaving food for wild cats to invite them home.
Having a cat in every household in Egypt was considered a solution to the rodent problem. The cats were happy to feed themselves with human-provided food and mice, to protect them from other animals that wanted to eat them, and the farmers were glad they found free pest control. Over time, traders, soldiers, and workers also began to carry domestic cats with them, thus spreading cats across Egypt. Cats were respected animals, not only physically, but also religiously and spiritually. For example, it was believed that if someone dreams of a cat, luck will come.
The Religious Significance of Cats in Egypt
In ancient Egypt, cats were associated with many religions. One of the first cat gods was the cheetah-like goddess. There were those who wanted to be protected from poisonous creatures such as snakes by worshiping the goddess named Mafdet. Mafdet also represented justice. The most famous cat goddess was Bastet. Depicted as half-cat, half-woman, Bastet was believed to protect homes and keep disease and evil away. She was also associated with femininity and fertility. She was a popular goddess for whom a festival was held. According to Egyptian Mythology, Bastet was the daughter of Ra, the God of Gods, and Isis. According to legend, Bastet one day got angry with his father Ra and fled to the Nubian desert in Southern Egypt and turned into a lion. After some time, Ra forgave his daughter and called her back to Egypt. There were many more cat gods and goddesses in Egypt, such as Mafdet and Sekhmet, but Bastet was the only cat to represent domestic cats.
People’s love for cats in ancient Egypt was truly unique. It is said that the Persian Emperor Cambises knew the love of the Egyptians for cats in the Battle of Pelisium in 525 BC, and he used this love to his advantage by bringing cats into the war and having cats painted on the soldiers’ shields. Since the Egyptian soldiers did not want to harm the cats, they accepted the defeat and passed into the hands of the Persians. In temples, clergy would open cat nurseries and cat cemeteries. Many people buried their mummified cats in these cemeteries.
There were laws protecting cats in Egypt. The penalty for killing a cat, even accidental, was death. It was forbidden to send or trade cats to other countries. Ancient civilizations had great respect for cats. Those who wanted to show how much they loved their cats were buried in the same grave after their cats died. When cats died, they were immediately mummified, because in the next world cats were expected to be with their owners.
