Why did the ancient Egyptians worship cats? Ancient Egypt was one of the most developed civilizations of its time, and with it came a very unique religion for the modern world. One of the most interesting parts of their beliefs was the worship of cats. In this article we will consider in detail this aspect and some other religious practices of Egypt. In ancient Egypt animals of all kinds were deeply respected.

Each animal usually had its symbolic meaning: for example, hippos represented fertility, crocodiles - strength, and many gods in the political religion of Egypt were depicted with an animal head on a human body. Cats were one of those animals that could be seen almost everywhere in Egyptian art. Even one of the most iconic structures in Egypt’s history - the sphinx - has a cat-like face.

However, it is important to note that the ancient Egyptians did not worship cats themselves or other animals. They saw them as symbols of various deities. This meant that, according to the Egyptians, the gods were not incarnations of these animals, but rather, the animals served as physical symbols of the gods themselves.

That is why some historians claim that the Egyptians supposedly worshipped these animals, when in fact they worshiped what they represented. Regardless of whether the Egyptian passion for cats can be called worship, cats played an important role in the culture of ancient Egypt. It is also believed that cats were one of the few animals that could accompany humans in the afterlife. This is confirmed by numerous cases of mummification of cats together with pharaohs and ordinary people.

Mummification was a process available only to the Egyptian elite, although it was a prerequisite for entering the afterlife. The fact that cats were mummified with greater priority than ordinary people speaks to the high status they held in Egyptian society. Now let’s look at how the ancient Egyptians interacted with cats to better understand why they enjoyed such respect.

There is a common misconception that cats were domesticated in ancient Egypt, but this is not true. Today, there is a theory that cats domesticated themselves thousands of years before they became symbols of Egypt. This may explain why the Egyptians were so fascinated by them. Their independence, combined with the ability to connect with people, attracted both rulers and commoners.

Cats became instantly popular pets, and their population grew rapidly. Owning a cat was not only considered an act of friendship, although it was also important for her status. The cat brought benefits to the owner.

In a country where many dangerous animals such as poisonous snakes and scorpions lived, cats played a key role in pest control. According to some historians, they were the most preferred means of pest control. Houses where there were many pets were considered free of pests, poisons and diseases, which naturally associated cats with purity. This is confirmed by ancient Egyptian burial texts, where the cats are depicted as protecting the sun god Ra from the serpent Apep who threatened him.

The animal, considered a protector, in some cases even surpassed humans in status. And the best example of such a defender, according to the Egyptians, was a cat. Moreover, the Egyptians saw in cats qualities that they particularly appreciated. Cats were able to take care of themselves and keep clean.

Purity was very important in ancient Egypt, and cats were considered the cleanest animals. So much so that the pharaohs and other members of the nobility allowed cats to eat from the same plates as themselves. This was a significant fact, considering that even the servants were not allowed to be in the same room as the nobles during the meal, but the animals could share the meal.

Cats were also thought to be smart and intelligent, capable of making decisions faster than humans. Even today, many people can agree with this. In extreme situations, it might be better to think like a cat rather than as a person.

Therefore, the symbols of cats were also found on military uniforms of various soldiers of ancient Egypt. They saw their enemies as cats saw their prey. In addition, cats were associated with the symbolism of fertility. On many images in Egyptian art cats sit under chairs or next to women.

According to Julia Trosh of Missouri State University, this demonstrated the relationship of cats with women and, more broadly, with fertility. She believes this may be related to the fact that cats can give birth to several kittens at once and are known for their concern about offspring. Cats could be considered perfect mothers because they are very attached to their kittens in the beginning, but soon disengage them, preparing them for independent life.

Another quality that the Egyptians appreciated in cats is their ferocity. They knew how to protect themselves from danger. Their elaborate hunting methods symbolized how the Egyptians perceived their army.

So, how did the cats become a symbol for all Egyptians, not just for the nobles who first met them? Think of modern-day informants. Ancient Egyptian kings had not only absolute influence, but also the ability to set trends for commoners. When the ruling elite began to produce a new product, ordinary Egyptians sought to replicate it by using their resources.

The same applied to clothing and fashion in general. Some Egyptians even tried to mummify themselves with mud and other available means, so it was popular. And the same thing happened to cats.

When the commoners saw how the nobles treat cats, they also wanted to have cats. That’s how cats got their status in ancient Egypt. But there were cats that the Egyptians really worshipped.

These were not the cats themselves, but deities who symbolized cats or perceived as cats. One such deity was Mafdet. Mafdet was an ancient Egyptian goddess depicted as a cheetah.

The veneration of the Mafdet can be traced back to the first Egyptian dynasty, and, like other cats, it played an important role in protecting the Egyptians. She was considered the protector of the sun god Ra, accompanying him on his travels. Mafdet also symbolized protection from unclean and poisonous animals such as snakes and crows.

She also defended the Ma'at - a deity and at the same time a concept that symbolizes honor, truth, justice, order, law, morality and everything that was just in Egyptian society. Another cat goddess was Bastet, depicted as a woman with the head of a cat. At first it was depicted as a lion, but over time its appearance has changed to what we know today.

She was perceived as another hypostasis of the goddess Sekhmet, who was another solar deity. Sehmet was seen as violent and aggressive, while Bastet was more gentle and caring. Bastet is also present in the ancient Greek religion, where it was called Aylaros.

It is assumed that the Egyptian attitude towards cats has had an impact on the whole world, especially in the Middle East. In countries like Turkey, cats are still respected just as they were in ancient Egypt. The Cat Association has transcended boundaries and religions, and even in modern religions such as Islam and Christianity, cats are considered pure and sacred animals. Since ancient times cats were one of the most popular pets, and in the age of the Internet their popularity is clearly not going to fade.