Cats in Ancient Societies Essay

Cats have played a central role in many ancient cultures, from India to Greece. They were not only loved and admired as pets but also considered to be sacred animals with symbolic religious importance.

Egyptian society embraced cats as divine beings and even made representations of them in tombs. Their almost-supernatural grace, stealth and night vision were highly regarded. The feline was regarded as an incarnation of the sun god Ra. This is thought to have been a reflection of the cat's ability to catch the rays of the sun and stay awake during the night.

According to Herodotus, a cat was the favourite of the goddess Bastet, who had her own city called Bubastis, or House of the Cat. She began as a lion, and her cult became so important that the cat was considered sacred to the goddess.

The Egyptians were particularly fond of their cats, displaying them on their shields and giving them gold jewelry. Their love of cats spread across all classes, and pharaohs were often accompanied by their pet felines on the hunt.

There are records that the Persians used the Egyptians' love of cats against them, driving a pack of them ahead of their army in battle outside Pelusium (now Alexandria). This frightened the Egyptians into surrendering rather than risking harm to their beloved pets and offending the goddess Bastet.

Cats were also used in Roman civilization, as their natural affinity for mice meant they were useful in controlling vermin populations. Soldiers kept them in their forts to protect their food stores from rats and mice, and they were a popular companion both at home and on the field.

Greek culture viewed cats in similar ways to the Egyptians. They were a symbol of independence and freedom, and they were sometimes depicted in ancient Greek art as gods, such as Libertas.

During the Roman Empire, the cat was seen as a guardian and protector of the gods, and they were allowed to enter temples. Some goddesses took the form of a cat, and it was even possible for a woman to turn into one.

Indian society also embraced cats as divine beings, and they were also associated with the sun and moon. They were especially revered for their loyalty and obedience.

Dogs and jackals were also honoured in Egypt, as they were believed to be the guardians of the dead and led spirits into the Netherworld. They were also a source of entertainment for pharaohs and kings, as they were able to play tricks on the spirits who lived in cemeteries.

The ancient Azande people of North Central Africa, however, feared wild cats, called adandaras, which were reputed to be omens of death and witchcraft. These cats were said to have bright bodies and large eyes that gleam in the dark, and they produced a loud shrill cry.

In addition, the cat is a sacred animal to some tribes in South America. It is also a powerful omen in the Zande, an African group of witches and lesbians living in the Kalahari desert.