Ancient Egyptians are known for worshipping many animals for centuries. Different animals were revered for distinct and different reasons. Dogs were also amongst those animals that were worshipped for their ability to protect and hunt. But cats, for Ancient Egyptians, were the most important and special.
There is absolutely no shortage of cat-themed artifacts in Egypt, from larger than normal human statues to jewelry delicately integrated dedicated to all kinds of felines. These arts reflected the status of the feline among the people who lived along the river Nile.
The respective animals were initially adopted as beneficial predators only later to become a symbol of protection and divinity.
To honor these felines, wealthy Egyptian families dressed their felines in intricate jewelry and fed them food and treats that were seen as royal. On their death, these cats were mummified, and cat owners shaved off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning for the felines. The mourning continued till the hair grew back.
Paintings of every kind of feline were common and found on every nook and corner of Egypt. The obsession was so extreme that even if somebody killed a cat by accident, he was sentenced to death. Killing a cat was basically a sin among Ancient Egyptians.
Why Did Egyptians Worship Cats?
Why would Egyptians shave off their eyebrows out of respect while mourning for the loss of a cat’s family member?
A lot of this Reverence came from the belief and similarity found by Ancient Egyptians between their gods and rulers with cats. Cats were seen as attaining the desirable temperaments while being protective, loyal and nurturing. They believed their gods and rulers to have such qualities along with being pugnacious and independent, which most felines are.
These similarities made Egyptians see cats as extraordinary creatures worthy of their respect and attention. They also saw the reasons behind the feline-esque built statues.
The Great Sphinx of Giza has a man’s face with a lion body which further authenticated Ancient Egyptians beliefs toward felines.
Known for being the protective deity, Sekhmet, the powerful goddess having the face of a lion and body of a female; along with another goddess, Bastet, who was known and seen as a cat or a lion and believed that cats were sacred to her, added the respect and divinity of felines in the eyes of Egyptians.
Cats in Ancient Egypt – A Companion and Pest Controller
Ancient Egyptians also thought of cats as good companions because cats found their way into houses when days were warmer outside and, in turn, benefitted them by chasing away venomous animals from houses like snakes and scorpions.
Soon cats became known for their incredible hunting abilities as they hunted mice and snakes and became insanely popular among the Ancient Egyptians as they nicknamed their children after felines as well.
However, it did not take long for this obsession to become extreme and violent. The more sinister side of this feline fascination was exposed with whole industries dedicated to breeding millions of kittens to later be killed and mummified, just so that people who died could be buried beside the cats’.
Many creatures were offered as a sacrifice to the ancient gods as a means to attain help from deities.
This obsession took an even more serious turn when people believed that according to Egyptian Methodology, often gods and goddesses transformed themselves in the form of different animals, mainly felines.
Egyptian Cat Worship Made Trendy by Ancient Royals
Ancient Egyptians looked up to their royals and made them their ideals. They saw royals as the real trendsetters and followed what royals did. Following their lead from eating food to fashion and its extended to even felines.
Royals held felines in high regard based on the preferences and practices of their gods and goddesses. Not only gods but their kings and pharaohs owned giant cats as well. These royals took the lead, dressed their felines in delicate dresses, and decorated them with intricate jewelry and gold.
Ancient Egyptians followed the footsteps of their royal family and did everything they could to copy the royals. Of course, being from the lower class, they could not dress their cats in jewels and fancy clothes but did not shy away from owning felines or owning pieces of jewelry that featured cats.
Cats and Their Impeccable Characteristics
In addition to being incredible hunters and their abilities to keep snakes, rodents, and all other harmful pests out of the homes in Egypt, Ancient Egyptians did not take too long to realize and identify the basic properties of all sizes of cats, that they all are quick, intelligent, independent and powerful.
They were soon to connect these properties with that of their goddess, Sekhmet. She was a lioness goddess, a warrior and protector deity keeping all enemies at bay. She kept away all kinds of sickness, diseases, and illnesses.
Mummification of Cats
Believed by the Ancient Egyptians that their gods and goddesses often reach out to them by attaining different forms of animals, especially felines.
They believed that these gods could not appear with just the head of a cat but the whole body. That is another reason for the mummification of cats and the creation of a whole economy for breeding and mummification came into existence.
Killing a cat in Egypt in ancient days was highly forbidden, with the exception of mummification.
All of us joking about how our cats feel like they should be worshiped with us walking and being attentive to them all day long seems like a genuine demand. These demands secretly show how cats have not forgotten their good old, being worshipped days.
Cats did save the lives of many Ancient Egyptians by defending Egyptians from vermin. Without them, there is a possibility that the civilization in Egypt might not have survived.
Worship your cat, make it feel like a god, and who knows, maybe the next time a cat decides to save a human from dying might be you!
