Cats in Ancient Egypt: 4 Unknowns About the Cat Civilization
In ancient Egypt, cats were always the most popular creatures during the reign of the pharaohs. Cats can be seen in almost every ancient Egyptian artifact unearthed today. In fact, the feline civilization was so obsessed with these tiny paws that the rich often mummified their cats after they died. So why did cats play such an important role in Ancient Egypt? In the rest of the article, you will find some interesting information on this subject. The people of Ancient Egypt were famous for their fondness for feline species. This civilization, which ruled on the Nile River for thousands of years, used cats almost everywhere throughout their history, from statues to mummies, from jewelry to cat-themed works. In fact, the world’s first cat tomb is 2000 years old in Egypt. This begs the question, “Why is the cat sacred in Egypt?” Let’s examine the answer together…
Why Cats were Sacred in Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, cats were sacred pets. The discovery of cat tombs thousands of years old today is the most important indicator of this. In fact, cat mummification was so popular at that time that it is possible to say that an industry was formed in this field. First of all, the first reason why Egyptians considered cats sacred was that they believed that the gods they worshipped resembled these creatures. Of course, the behavior of cats was also important in this. Like a god, cats were often loving and loyal, and sometimes angry and fierce. Since the Egyptians considered cats sacred in history, they created many artifacts addressed to them.
. Antik Mısır’da kedi eserleri Today, it has been unearthed in many excavations. The most important of these is the Great Sphinx of Giza . This artifact, which has a human face and a lion’s body, is 73 meters long in total. About the reason why cats are so sacred, it is believed that the god Bastet considered cats sacred.
Cat Names in Ancient Egypt
Cat names are a common topic of conversation today. But research has shown that cats in Ancient Egypt also had special names. In fact, it was a very similar situation to today’s cat adoption. So what were cat names in Ancient Egypt? Here are the most popular cat names used at that time…
- Bastet: The name of the mother goddess in ancient Egypt. This was the most common name given to cats at that time.
- Osiris: The god Osiris, the judge of the dead, was generally feared by the people. Those who wanted to keep good relations with him named their cat after him.
- Sphinx The name of a mythological Egyptian creature.
- Mafdet: An Egyptian goddess thought to wear cat skins.
- Ra: The sun god.
The Sphinx Cat Breed is famous as the pharaoh’s cat and is a commonly adopted breed today. It immediately distinguishes itself from other breeds with its hairless skin. However, although its homeland is known as Egypt, it is actually a breed that was bred by chance in England.
The Penalty for Killing a Cat in Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, cats were sacred creatures. The punishment for killing or harming them was quite severe. If you killed a cat at that time, it was equivalent to killing a human being. And the punishment was usually death. According to unearthed sources, this was the penalty for killing a cat around 450 BC. Today, unfortunately, killing tiny paws results in administrative fines.
Do Egyptians Like Cats?
The ancient Egyptians were a cat-loving society. Their bipolar temperament made them sacred in this society. Because, like gods, they are both maternal and affectionate, but also angry and furious when necessary. In fact, the best answer to the question “Do Egyptians love cats?” can be shown as an example that this people mummified their dead cats. You can follow our Instagram account to make your cat listen to Ancient Egyptian cat music.
