Along with hieroglyphs, obelisks and geometric figures, cats played a key role in the art of ancient Egypt. It reflects the unique status that these animals had in the society that inhabited the banks of the Nile thousands of years ago.
Initially, cats were domesticated as a useful predator in pest control, but gradually became a symbol of care and divine origin, write from profit.bg
“It is difficult to say definitively what the belief system of the ancient Egyptians was, because over a period of more than 3,000 years spanning their history, many things have changed. In general, they did not deify animals, but rather deified them. accepted as presentations the various traits of the character of their gods, “explains Egyptologist Julia Trosch of the University of Missouri to the online edition of History.
But whether or not cats were worshiped as gods, they were an integral part of Egyptian life. And judging by their mummified remains in the tombs of rulers and aristocrats, their role is clearly preserved in the afterlife.
In the beginning, cats began to live with humans for practical reasons. They received shelter and food, in return chasing mice in barns and chasing dangerous snakes and scorpions out of houses.
On some of the frescoes in the tombs they are depicted near their owners. And Egyptian tombs are like homes for eternity. In them, the Egyptians depicted their families, placed their valuables and wrote their titles. The presence of cats in these temples is proof of how important a place they occupied in the society of that time.
The tomb of Nebamun, housed in the British Museum, depicts a cat hunting birds with its owner. Fluffy predators are present in tombs not only as images. Their mummified remains have been found in many of them.
Like many other societies, including more recent ones, the rulers of ancient Egypt were a kind of “influencers” who set fashion trends – from food, through clothing to pets.
And since many of them kept cats in their rooms, the practice was transferred to the lower social strata. Members of the ruling class often dressed their cats in gold robes and allowed them to eat from their own vessels.
The poorer Egyptians could not afford to gild their pets in the literal sense of the word, but some of them made special jewelry and ornaments for them.
In addition to dealing with rodents and reptiles, cats were respected by the Egyptians for their speed and intelligence.
“The goddess Bastet, who is the daughter of the sun god Ra and Isis, was first depicted as a lioness and later as a domestic cat with small kittens. In Egyptian mythology, she is considered the patron saint of the family. Sekmet is the lioness-warrior. which protects Ra from his enemies and from disease, “explains Julia Trosch.
Cats are often depicted around women’s chairs, which connects them to fertility and family.
The Egyptians believed that their gods could change shape and incarnate in various animals, including cats. That is why the mummification of cats has become such an important ritual. In fact, it was an entire industry in ancient Egypt, where killing a cat was forbidden except in one case – when it comes to mummification.
“Cats are not worshiped as gods, but rather as forms that the gods can choose to inhabit,” explains Monique Skidmore, a professor of anthropology at Deakin University.
The presence of small predators in the art, fashion and interior design of the ancient Egyptians shows that they were something of a symbol and a daily reminder of the power of the gods.
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