Cats began to appear on objects, such as jewelry, clothing, mirror handles, etc. Facts about Egyptian Cats 4: the role of Bast. Genetic analysis has revealed, however, that even if cats were found outside of Egypt, that the Egyptians were the ones to officially domesticate wild, feral cats into what we have today. Learn about how cats were honored in Ancient Egypt. In this study ⦠We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. The worship of cats in Egypt has been a topic of fascination for many cat owners and lovers. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Wooden and bronze statuettes of cats were also made and sold, especially for funerary purposes, but also sometimes for decorative purposes. There were more than 300,000 mummified cats in the temple - further proved that they were sacred in ancient Egypt. Cats were highly regarded in Ancient Egypt, which is evidenced by the overwhelming presence of cats in Egyptian art. Middle Eastern species of cats were domesticated in Egypt about 10,000 years ago and while various other animals were also considered sacred, cats had a special status among those animals. Cats Rule in Ancient Egypt. Hartwig wants to make one thing clear, though: Egyptians did not worship cats, but they did believe that cats held a bit of divine energy within them. Cats, however, occupied a special space in Ancient Egypt. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. Dogs were valued for their ability to protect and hunt, but cats were thought to be the most special. 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. Cats were held in very high esteem by the ancient Egyptians. However, she became Bastet, when she was portrayed fully as a cat. This shows how important the cat was for the ancient Egyptians. All rights reserved. She was the goddess of the home, domesticity, women's secrets, cats, fertility, and childbirth. We hope you enjoy this website. In the city of Per-Bast, a beautiful temple was built, and people came from all over to experience its splendor. 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. There is ample historical and archaeological evidence to show that the cat was, indeed, an integral part of a standard ancient Egyptian household. 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 ⦠One such aspect is the peculiar relationship that the ancient Egyptians shared with felinesâcats in particular. Only one deity, the goddess named Bastet, had the power to become a cat. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Bast was depicted as a young woman with a cat’s head. Ancient Cat in Today's Egypt Art from ancient Egypt shows statues and paintings of every type of feline. The cult of the cat, as it was known, was functional in Egypt right since the 16th century BCE. Today, we know how highly cats were respected because of the mourning practices when they died and the mummification of cats. Animals were revered for different reasons. Famously devoted to these furry creatures âcalling them miw onomatopoeticallyâthe Egyptians mummified deceased cats and depicted them in paintings and sculptures. Their pyramids and mummies have always been the subjects of awe. 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. Several archaeological remains point towards the domestication of cats in Ancient Egypt. 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. One woman is working to help save them. Dogs were valued for their ability to protect and hunt, but cats were thought to be the most special. 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⦠A mummified cat is one of the grave goods that has been abundantly found in tombs, especially of nobility and the royalty. 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. Owing to this, the cult’s reach and popularity declined to a great extent. In ancient egypt, every big city supported one favorite god, similar to people who support football teams today. See more ideas about Ancient egypt, Cats in ancient egypt, Egypt. Unfortunately the most are abandoned and homeless, they are treated badly by the owners or the bystanders. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. 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. According to James Allen Baldwin, cats are present in Egyptâs archaeological record as far back as the predynastic period, almost 5,000 years ago. Later in Egyptian history, the goddess Bastet (sometimes just âBastâ) replaced Mafdet as the feline goddess of choice. Dec 6, 2019 - Our love affair goes way back . Bast was known as the cat goddess in Egypt. Upon its excavation, cats were among the first things that the scientists noticed. 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. The Ancient Egyptians had Bastet and Sekhmet among other feline deities, and cats were even held in higher regard than men, drawing from the fact that harming a cat was an act punishable by death. Cats may have existed then, welcomed in the households, and fed and nurtured. The ancient Egyptians admired cats for their friendly, playful, and intelligent traits. The Egyptians worshiped a huge pantheon of gods and goddesses, with the inclusion of various sacred animals. Several ancient Egyptian deities were depicted and sculptured with cat-like heads such as Mafdet, Bastet and Sekhmet, representing justice, fertility and power. Cats are traditionally believed to have been domesticated in Egypt during the Middle Kingdom (c. 1950 B.C.E.). 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. View Images An Egyptian cat mummy. Cats in ancient Egypt were represented in social and religious practices of ancient Egypt for more than 3,000 years. 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. 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. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The presence of tabby cats in ancient Egypt is further supported by a recent genetic study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. In a battle between Persians and Egyptians, the former captured a large number of cats to use them against the latter. Owing to the cat’s status as a guardian, it was then regarded as the sacred guardian of the Underworld. Cats were obviously important, and there were enormous cults, which revered these felines. Most tomb paintings representing household scenes have depictions of cats either playing, feeding, or just resting. Facts about egyptian cats 7: One of the civilizationâs figures of worship, bastet, was known as the cat goddess. Some Egyptian role models in dealing with animals Amr Mohamed feeding stray cats â Egypt Today/Hend Safwat Mercy doesnât exist among adults only, but it also exists among children as well. She also protected humans from venomous animals, and since venomous creatures, such as snakes and scorpions were (and are) in abundance in the Egyptian desert, the goddess had an important place in the pantheon. Besides these graceful hunters, Egyptians also considered sacred black bulls, falcons, crocodiles, jackals, ibises, sheep and some other animals and birds. Owing to the rising importance of the city, the cult of Bast also became increasingly popular throughout the land. Ancient Egyptians worshipped many animals for thousands of years. Facts about Egyptian Cats 3: Bast. As we know from archeological evidence, cats ⦠Ancient Egyptians worshipped many animals for thousands of years. Buy, sell and adopt puppies, dogs, cats and other animals. In ancient Egypt, there were two different primary breeds: one the fierce jungle cats, the other the more peaceful African wildcats. Bastet was extremely popular throughout Egypt with b⦠Next time you see a cat, think about its connection to ancient Egypt. In 390 CE, cat worship in Egypt was officially banned by the Roman empire. One of the most obvious evidences showing that cats were, indeed, the most domesticated animals in Ancient Egypt comes from the period between 2,000-1,000 BCE, from the desert on the outskirts of the town of Beni Hasan, an ancient Egyptian cemetery site. I do not own the content of this video all credit goes to National Geographic. Women also favored cats as companions much the way modern people today look to pets for companionship. 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. Cats were so special that those who killed them, even by accident, were sentenced to death. She sat in a crouched position, in most depictions. Cat wasnât the only sacred animal in Egypt. Her role in the ancient Egyptian culture earned more importance than the goddess Mafdet over the years. 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. Copyright © Historyplex & Buzzle.com, Inc. The internet is rife with cats: cat videos, cat memes, there are even celebrity cats! Though they are no longer worshiped in the manner they used to be, cats are still loved the world over as pets and for their mouse-hunting skills. If we consider lions as cats, the cult of the Lion-headed Goddess, Sekhmet, was prominent. However, the Egyptian Pharaohs sent their soldiers to recapture their cats. Archaeologists suggest that the ancient Egyptians may have developed a sort of symbiotic relationship with wildcats, which hunted down all the threats to supplies of food. Find vets, rescue teams, shops and pet services in your local area. âI am fascinated by cats,â Amr Mohamed, an 11-year-old boy said. 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. The deity Mut was also depicted as a cat and in the company of a cat. Seeing their revered felines running haphazardly across the battlefield, the Egyptians chose to surrender, rather than killing the cats. Egyptians believed cats were magical creatures, capable of bringing good luck to the people who housed them. 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! Wild cats are now known to have lived among the people of Mesopotamia over 100,000 years ago and to have been domesticated there approximately 12,000 BCE at about the same time as dogs, sheep, and goats. Ancient Egyptian relief in Edfu Temple ( Wikimedia Commons ) These cats, however, were not as cats appear todayâat least not at first. What is surprising is that all these pet cats were never named, they were just cats. Everyday Amr feeds stray cats because they cannot always find food for themselves. Although it has been commonly accepted that cats were first domesticated in Egypt 4000 years ago, their history among human beings goes back much further. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/cats-rule-in-ancient-egypt.html. 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. Because domestic cats were known for their mysterious and secretive nature and also possessed an ability to see in the dark, Bast and all her earthly manifestations came to be associated with the Underworldâthe realm of the dead. Seeing their revered felines running haphazardly across the battlefield, the Egyptians chose to surrender, rather than killing the cats. Pets for Sale in Egypt. Animals were revered for different reasons. December 6, 2007âEgyptian Maus may descend from the first domesticated cats in the world. Cats were so special that those who killed them, even by accident, were sentenced to death. However, there are several other aspects as well, which have managed to attract substantial amount of popular attention. 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. But if you think that modern folks are cat-crazy you should have been around in Ancient Egypt. Bast was known as the goddess of motherhood and fertility. Cat figurines were also placed outside houses and shrines, in order to ward off evil spirits. The two species eventually merged creating a new breed which was closely related to the modern Egyptian Mau. We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Safe Haven Egypt is a volunteer-run cat sanctuary that has been operating in Cairo since 2015. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. Though hard for many people to believe, cats would often join ⦠Whereas cats were an object of reverence, the most widely found pet in pet friendly Egypt was the dog. The latter had a calmer temperament and so was more commonly domesticated than its wilder relative. However, the culmination of the cult came about only by the 8th century BCE, when Sheshonq I (or Sheshonq I), the founder of the Twenty-second Dynasty developed Bubastis into an important city. The ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, who traveled to Ancient Egypt, has mentioned in one of his travelogues about the importance of domesticated 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. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. To honor these treasured pets, wealthy families dressed them in jewels and fed them treats fit for royalty. 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