Meaning Of Cats In Ancient Egypt

Meaning of cats in ancient Egypt

Introduction

Cats have been causing admiration, mystery and intrigue in humans since time immemorial. Going back to the time before Christ, specifically about 3.600 years, cats in ancient Egypt had a special relevance. At that time, the four pets were only four: the cat or miu, the dog, tysem or IU, the babouin or Ian and the monkey or ky. Domesticated by the Egyptians was a stained subspecies of the African wild cat, Felis Silvestris Lybica. It seems that Egyptian representations show cats similar to the Egyptian Mau race. And, curiously, the word ‘mau’ means ‘cat’ in Egyptian. 

Developing

This breed has a ‘m’ feature in the front and is the only one with natural spots. They are characterized by the great fidelity shown both to his human family and cat, his melodious meow and the incessant movement of his tail. Among them, were religion, mythology and the daily life of the Egyptians. In all of them, cats were ‘worshiped as deities, loved as pets, protected by law, mummified and surprised after their death’. (Quot) way of life of cats in ancient Egypt the Middle Kingdom is the most prosperous era of ancient Egypt, in which pharaohs such as Amenhotep III (~ 1390-1353 a. C.)

 The Pharaoh Amenotep III ordered to build a beautifully decorated sarcophagus for its cat tamit, whose name means ‘cat’. Cats fulfilled different duties, such as keeping pests controlled, which proliferated near the houses. The pests were mostly caused by rats, but also by other animals such as scorpions or snakes.

Other tasks also consisted of helping their owners hunt. They frightened the birds, which raised the flight, thus facilitating the hunting work. His work was so important that they became the favorite pet of royalty. For example, the goddess Bast, Bastet or Ubastet represented the protection of man as well as a cat with her young. 

His best known representation is one in which his body is from a human woman, but with a cat’s head. The goddess Bast was Nefer-Tmu’s mother. While the mother represented the soft and comforting heat of the sun, the son personifies the same sun and her heat. The cats were the sacred creature associated with the goddess Bastet. In the temples of this goddess she raised and protected cats. However, they were usually sacrificed and mummified when pilgrim offerings or other individuals had ten months. Among those facts are the following: when the pet died, the owners express their pain and penalty shaking a part of the body. If the deceased pet was a cat, the owner shaved his eyebrows. On the contrary if the pet was a dog, the owner shaved his whole body.

 The wealthiest classes sometimes paid for the embalming of their pets. The Egyptians prohibited the export of cats outside the kingdom. Even so, about 2 ago.500 years AC, cats have arrived in Greece. Cats have been part of numerous stories, legends and literary novels. In a legend, the cat is represented as a divinity, like the God of the sun. This God-Gato is standing in a heavenly tree and is chopping a snake. Not known enough to deduce what God the cat represents, so different options are considered. A study suggested that the populations of the Middle Eastern Europe live together with cats. 

conclusion

 Cats have generated feelings found. Him’s independence can simulate indifference, as well as his stealthy walking along that elegant can cause concern by not knowing when he approaches. However, his transparent gaze, his spoiled slice and elegance they transmit, are appreciated qualities. A double grave was found, of a human and a cat, buried on Cyprus’s Mediterranean island makes 9.500 years.