How Cats Became Divine Symbols in Ancient Egypt
Cats were an integral part of ancient Egyptian life. They were adopted as useful predators in ancient Egypt and gradually became symbols of divinity and protection. And, based on mummified cats discovered in tombs alongside humans, they carried an important role in the afterlife, as well.
Cats Provided Companionship and Pest Control
For most of the civilization’s history, ancient Egyptians saw cats as mutually beneficial companions.
- Cats might come inside when it was hot, and they in turn would chase away dangerous animals, such as snakes and scorpions.
Cats Had Coveted Characteristics
In addition to appreciating their ability to keep rodents, snakes and other pests out of their homes, the ancient Egyptians understood that cats of all sizes are smart, quick and powerful.
- Cats in ancient Egypt were also seen as possessing another type of power: fertility.
Cat Mummification
The ancient Egyptians believed that their gods could assume different forms, and over the centuries, it became increasingly common for gods to take the form of animals
- These gods could not just appear with the head of a cat, for example, but could also inhabit the bodies of cats
- A whole economy around breeding and mummifying cats was created
Companionship in the Afterlife
After keeping a cat as a live-in pet during their lives, ancient Egyptians continued that relationship into the afterlife.
- Sometimes cats were mummified and placed inside their human companion’s tomb, according to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
- This meant that the deceased person could inhabit the body of the mummifying cat in the afterlife
Ancient Royals Made Cats Trendy
The ancient Egyptians held cats in such high regard because of the practices and preferences of their gods, but also because their kings, the pharaohs, kept giant cats
- Members of the Egyptian royal class dressed their cats in gold and let them eat from their plates
- Although members of the lower classes weren’t in a position to wear precious metals, they did make and wear feline jewelry
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