Today we call ourselves cat ladies and cat dads. But the ancient Egyptians literally worshipped cats as divine beings. Here is how cats became the most revered animals in human history.
How the Relationship Began
Around 4,000 years ago, wildcats began hunting mice and rats in Egyptian grain stores. Rather than driving them away, Egyptians welcomed them. The cats protected the food supply, and Egyptians provided safety. It was the first documented human-cat partnership.
Bastet: The Cat Goddess
Bastet was one of the most popular Egyptian deities. She was depicted as a lioness or a woman with a cats head, representing home, fertility, and protection. Families would leave offerings at Bastet temples to ensure their cats health and safety.
Cats Were Protected by Law
Killing a cat, even accidentally, was punishable by death. When a family cat died, all household members shaved their eyebrows as a sign of mourning. Cats were also mummified and buried with their owners.
Cats in Battle
The Persian king Cambyses II reportedly used cats as a military strategy against Egypt. Knowing Egyptian soldiers would not harm cats, he placed them on the front lines. The Egyptians surrendered rather than risk injuring the sacred animals.
The Export Ban
Egypt made it illegal to export cats. Smuggling cats out of Egypt was a capital offense. Despite this, Phoenician traders eventually smuggled cats to Europe, where they spread across the continent.
The Legacy
The Egyptian reverence for cats shaped how the entire world views them. The idea that cats are mysterious, independent, and almost supernatural traces back directly to ancient Egyptian culture.
Every time your cat sits regally on a shelf and ignores you, remember: they have been doing this for 4,000 years.
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