The Egyptian Mau is the cat of the pharaohs. Tailed Goddess: Cats in Ancient Egypt

Much that is connected with the history of Ancient Egypt is still under the cover of mystery: mysterious pyramids, powerful pharaohs, treasures of tombs, sphinxes, the sands of time ... No less mysterious is the cat breed of the pharaohs "Egyptian Mau", or, as some sources call it - Egyptian Mau. Images of cats of this particular breed (and “mau” is translated as “cat”) adorn the walls of the ancient pyramids of Egypt. In general, in Egypt, cats were sacred animals.

Cats in ancient Egypt

The first written mention of Egyptian Mau cats dates back to the fifth century BC, and the author of these references is the ancient Greek historian Herodotus (he generally told a lot about the world). Herodotus reports that even three thousand years before our era, every Egyptian kept a cat in his house. True, what they were, Herodotus does not tell.

The very fact of the large number of domestic cats in ancient Egypt is not surprising. After all, it is known that cats were valued and respected there. The Egyptians treated these sacred animals with divine reverence. Numerous statues of the goddess Bast and the cat Bastet stood in the temples. And the supreme god Ra was often depicted as the Great Cat. To this day, images of a red cat (the Sun-God) cutting off the head of a snake with a knife have survived. And the original appearance of the Sun in Egyptian mythology is a cheetah (also a cat).

Even the death of ordinary domestic cats was accompanied by a sacred ritual. When a cat died, it was mummified. Mummies of cats were enclosed in gold and silver sarcophagi inlaid with precious stones. During archaeological excavations in the city of Beni Hassan, a whole cemetery of cats was discovered with burials of one hundred and eighty thousand (!) Cat mummies. It is also known that the owners, as a sign of grief for the dead cat, shaved off their eyebrows and wore many days of mourning.

History of the breed

The Egyptian Mau exotic cat traces its long pedigree from the cats of the great pharaohs. This is a very ancient breed, formed as a result of natural selection. The appearance of Mau cats has hardly undergone noticeable changes in more than three thousand years. For a very, very long time, this ancient breed was preserved only in its homeland. And the modern history of the pharaoh cat breed began a hundred years ago.

European cat breeders conceived to recreate the Egyptian Mau breed. But the first results of the reconstruction of the breed were “nullified” during the Second World War. The second attempt, which ended in success, was made in the fifties by the Russian princess Natalia Trubetskoy, who lived in Italy. The princess was the owner of two Mau cats (Gepa and Ludol), brought from Egypt. Trubetskaya registered them with the FIFe association, and after immigrating to the United States, she founded the Fatima cattery. As a result of the long and painstaking work of American felinologists, the Egyptian Mau was recognized by the CFA as an official breed in 1977.

These cats were brought to Europe in 1988, and they first came to Russia only in the summer of 2010. They were purchased by Polina Gorelkina, the owner of the EgyptSila cattery (Egyptian Force).

Features of the appearance of the cat of the pharaohs

The Egyptian Mau is a miniature leopard. By the way, they call it that: a leopard for the living room. But dark spots are not the only marks on the fur coat. A distinctive feature of these cats is bracelets and necklaces. Necklaces are contrasting stripes around the neck, and bracelets are half rings on the top of the front paws. In addition, the real cat of the pharaoh is marked with the sign of a scarab. This is a dark pattern in the form of the letter W, located at the level of the ears, connected to the "letter" M above the eyes.

And the eyes ... The eyes of Egyptian cats are exceptionally green, large and almond-shaped. Like the true Egyptians of Ancient Egypt, Pharaoh cats have a "goddess make-up": two long arrows that accentuate the eyes and run along the cheekbones to the temples.

Another unusual feature of the appearance of Egyptian Mau cats is small pouches in front of the hind legs. It is generally accepted that these folds hanging under the belly are needed for the swing of the hind legs during fast running and high jumps.

breed standard

The Egyptian Mau is a type of cat that resembles the Abyssinian. The CFA standard imposes the following requirements on the breed.

1. The build is strong and muscular, with well-developed bones
2. The ears are set high and wide, of medium or large size, sharp at the ends, sometimes with tassels.
3. The eyes are almond-shaped, large, the color of gooseberry green, located slightly obliquely towards the ears.
4. The coat is short or medium length, shiny, thick and silky.
5. Color of three types: silver, bronze, smoky.
6. Markings: dark spots, scarab mark, "oriental make-up".

Disqualifying signs of the Egyptian Mau breed: the absence of characteristic markings, yellow eyes.

Pharaoh cat character

The Egyptian Mau is special not only for its pedigree and catchy appearance. She also has distinctive (sometimes contradictory) qualities of character. So, for example, cats of this breed are both independent and devoted to their owners, balanced and passionate.
Mau cats are very energetic. They love walking and even agree to wear a collar or harness for this purpose. They are mobile and flexible, playful and sociable, can not stand loneliness. They have a melodic and expressive voice, by which you can always recognize the emotions and mood of the animal.

Like all cats, the Mau is not deprived of the desire to have a sweet sleep after dinner or to soak up the owner's lap. At the same time, they are unobtrusive and always feel whether a person is disposed to such communication or not. With an excess of joyful emotions, cats jump on their front (!) legs, wagging their tail so fast that it simply cannot be seen.

Cat care

Like all pets, Egyptian Mau cats require attention and care from the owner. And above all, her wonderful coat needs care. These cats are useful even just to stroke, not to mention the fact that they need constant brushing: both help to remove dead hair. For daily combing, you need a special comb with frequent teeth, and for periodic more intensive combing - a rubber brush. In addition, it is also useful to polish the coat with a soft suede, nylon or silk handkerchief.

Hygiene procedures include removing excess ear secretions, trimming nails and bathing the animal as needed. You should also monitor the condition of the teeth, and the health of the cat in general.

Curious facts

1. During estrus, cats can make such loud noises that it is impossible to hear the interlocutor.
2. According to the rules of breeding work and breed standards, Mau cannot be crossed with cats of other breeds.
3. Mau are the fastest of all cats: they are able to reach speeds of almost 60 km / h.
4. Mau bear cubs much longer than other cats: pregnancy lasts up to seventy-three days.
5. They tend to overeat and may be obese.

The Egyptian Mau is a cat breed that is still very small in number, and therefore still rare and expensive. Mostly representatives of this breed live in the United States, but there is also a Mau kennel in Europe (Germany, Italy, Holland, France). In Russia, there is only one single Egyptian Mau kennel, which is located in the Moscow region and is called the "Egyptian Force". Therefore, it is rather difficult to acquire this rare cat, but, according to true connoisseurs of the breed, such a cat is worth the money spent on it.

pharaoh cat

It is hard to imagine a creature that bears so little resemblance to all familiar breeds of cats. Who just does not call the sphinx. However, it is indeed a cat. And the prosaic "meow" does not fit in with her super-exotic appearance. Almost everyone who first saw a cat of this breed experiences a slight shock. But whatever your attitude towards the animal, you will never be able to forget the sphinx or simply remain indifferent to it.
The hairless breed of cats has been known since the time of the pharaohs of Egypt. Legend has it that a white, blue-eyed Sphinx guarded Egyptian temples. It is believed that hairless cats were among the Aztecs and in ancient Mexico. But their appearance was different from the appearance of modern sphinxes.
Now there are three breeds of hairless sphinx cats: the Canadian Sphynx and two - bred in Russia - the Don Sphynx and the St. Petersburg Sphynx. True, only Canadian Sphynxes have received world recognition so far (there are so far only a preliminary standard for Don Sphynxes). About the Canadian sphinxes and will be discussed today.
The beginning of modern breeding of sphinxes fell on 1966. Then a hairless kitten was born to a domestic cat in Ontario (Canada). He became the ancestor of a new breed of exotic cats, which later became known as the Canadian Sphynx.
There are very few purebred Canadian Sphynxes today. Due to the extremely limited number of animals, other breeds were used in the breeding program. Curly-haired Devon Rex cats were used most often in the formation of the Canadian Sphynx. The fact is that the descendants of the first generation do not have wool. But these breeds are different in appearance. If the Devon Rex is an elegant graceful cat, of a light type, then the Sphynx is “a bulldog among cats”. And this capacious comparison perfectly reflects the essence of the breed.
The main distinguishing feature of the Sphinx is the absence of hair, although it would be wrong to say that there is not a single hair on the Sphinx. To the touch, the leather resembles well-made suede. Sometimes, especially during the cold season, sphinxes have a light fluff, which they subsequently almost completely lose. Sphynx kittens are covered with folds of skin and look very funny. In an adult animal, wrinkles remain mainly between the ears, on the neck, behind the cheekbones. And the more wrinkles an adult cat has, the better.
The sphinxes of many modern lines are more like exquisite porcelain figurines than the wonderful wrinkled gnomes that they were at the very beginning of breeding. These cats have an amazing softness of outlines. There is not a single straight line in their figures, they are all rounded, all shapes are convex, and at the same time, they are smooth. Maybe that's why the second, less well-known name of the Canadian Sphynx is "moon cat".
The character of the Sphynx is not at all feline. It seems that they do not consider themselves cats at all: they are good-natured, peaceful, affectionate to humans, and treat dogs and other animals well.
New natural hairless mutations are still found among cats. Such animals are highly valued and they try to maximize their potential in breeding work. "New bald" usually become the pride of kennels.
For complete comfort, the sphinx needs the same temperature as a person. They do not require a special diet, but are quite voracious and eat more than other cats. This is because they need much more energy to heat the body. After all, the body temperature of sphinxes is approaching 42 ° C. Maybe that's why the ancient Indians used naked cats as live heating pads.
Sphynxes live just as long and have the same health as other cats. Breeding is not particularly difficult. And so in recent years, the popularity of this breed is growing all over the world. In America, sphinx lovers even publish their own newspaper, Naked Truth - Naked Truth.
Sphinxes perceive a person as their brothers and treat him “on an equal footing”, quite “humanly”. It is always very pleasant to communicate with such a cat. It is possible that due to the absence of wool, a feeling of contact is created not with an animal, but with a creature standing one step closer to a person - and, who knows, only externally? ..

Egyptian Mau - the favorite of the pharaohs

The Egyptian Mau captivates not only with its pedigree, coming from cats that lived in the palaces of the pharaohs, and not only with its bewitching grace and beauty, but also with the fact that cats of this breed, although they walk by themselves, are devoted and affectionate friends. Full of energy, the cat is very fond of long walks, she even agrees to wear a collar to walk with the owner, so if you lead an active lifestyle, you should pay attention to this breed.

Mau is an Egyptian word meaning "cat". There is no doubt that the images of cats of this particular breed adorn the walls of the Egyptian pyramids. The first written mention of cats is found in the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. It tells that for 3 thousand years BC, domestic cats lived in the house of every Egyptian. In ancient Egypt, cats were respected and valued. During their lifetime, they were revered as deities, after death they were mummified, and the grieving owners wore many days of mourning, shaving off their eyebrows. In the temples there were statues of the goddess Bast and her cat Bastet. And the supreme deity - the god Ra - often appeared in the form of the Great Cat - there are images in which the Sun-god in the form of a red cat cuts off the head of a snake with a knife, because the cheetah is the original cat form of the Sun.

Mau inherited pride, poise and passion from her divine ancestors. She is very affectionate and sociable, cannot stand loneliness, this cat requires attention and care. It is very interesting to watch how she expresses her joy - jumping on her front paws, while her tail trembles and wags often, often. Mau is full of energy, she loves movement, games, walks, which has a beneficial effect on her figure - graceful, flexible and muscular. In addition, she is a champion among cats - you are unlikely to find a cat that runs faster, because Mau reach speeds of up to 58 km / h! But if you do not follow the diet of your pet, she can turn into a well-fed cat, because Mau are real gourmets.

Mau is a gift for aesthetes. In her spotted fur coat - dark spots on a light general background - she looks like a miniature leopard. That is why it is called a leopard for the living room. In addition to spots, there are other marks: around the neck there are one or several rings - the so-called necklaces, on the upper part of the forepaws there are half rings - bracelets. The eyes are large, almond-shaped, the color of green currant or gooseberry. Kittens may have yellow-amber eyes. The ears are quite large, sometimes they have tassels.

If you want to get a real Egyptian Mau with a good pedigree, pay attention to the cat's muzzle. The Mau is not considered a true Egyptian cat unless it is emblazoned with a large M above the eyes and a W at the level of the ears towards the back of the head, this is the so-called scarab. In addition, the cat of the pharaohs must have a make-up of the goddess - these are two long lines that emphasize the eyes and run along the cheekbones. The colors of the Egyptian Mau can be of three types: black and silver, bronze and black and smoky.

The Egyptian Mau is a small breed and requires special attention. These cats are found in Italy, France, Germany and Holland, but mostly fans of Egyptian Mau live in the USA. It is not so easy to acquire such a valuable pet, but true connoisseurs of this breed claim that this cat is worth the money spent on it.

Description of the breed

Ears: Medium size, erect or slightly tilted forward; with rounded ends. Eyes: Large, round, widely spaced, usually gooseberry color. Muzzle: Rounded wedge-shaped, with a rounded small chin and high cheekbones. Neck: short, wide. Body: medium size, muscular, with characteristic spots on the coat. Coat: Fine, not too short, silky. Legs: Muscular, of medium length, often with rings or stripes; the back is longer than the front. Paws: small, oval, toes extended. Tail: Medium length, tapering towards the tip. Tail tip: dark.

The breed traces its origins to Egyptian street cats that came to the United States in 1956. The cat, taken out of Egypt, was crossed in Italy with a domestic cat, and it was their kittens that became the ancestors of the new breed. It is assumed that the Egyptian Mau are the descendants of cats that were worshiped in ancient Egypt.

Depictions of spotted cats, considered the original domestic cats, are often found in ancient Egyptian art and are very similar to modern Mau.

In 1957, these cats were first shown at an exhibition. In 1977 the breed was officially registered. Although the breed is recognized by many associations, Egyptian Mau are rare in Europe.

Despite their origin, the Mau has an atypical oriental build - an overly muscular body. The unique and most characteristic feature of the breed is the spotted coat color.

Features and character: friendly, sociable, affectionate; quick-witted, with a good memory, easily trained; need walks, pretty soon get used to walking on a leash; the fastest domestic cats.

Veneration of cats in Egypt. December 22nd, 2013

Nowhere is the cat revered as in Egypt. The complex metaphorical meaning that the world mythology endowed the image of this beautiful intelligent animal, the Egyptians reduced to positive, pleasant concepts for human consciousness - such as goodness, hearth, fun, love, motherhood, fertility, protective forces.

In ancient Egypt, there was a very significant cult of the goddess - the cat Bastet (Bast), who was also considered the personification of sunlight and moonlight. The goddess was depicted as a maiden with a cat's head or as a lioness. Bastet was considered the daughter of Osiris and Isis. Prayers were dedicated to her: "She can bestow life and strength, all the health and joy of the heart" or "I am a cat, mother of life." In her honor, cats were worshiped, they were mummified, a mouse was placed nearby so that the cats had something to have fun and eat in the afterlife.

Temple of the goddess Bast. Her cats and priestesses. Vera, Lucia, Emerim.

The cult of the cat appeared in the most ancient period of Egyptian history (Second Dynasty) and continued until the 1st century BC. The religious center of worship was the city of Bubastis, where, according to the Greek historian Herodotus, there was the most beautiful temple in Egypt, dedicated to Bastet. In the main sanctuary stood a huge statue of the goddess. During the annual spring festivities, the statue was taken out of the temple and solemnly transported on a boat along the banks of the Nile. These sacred animals were also bred there, and it was there that a large number of cat mummies were preserved.

Sacred cats were fed with milk and bread; for them, fish that did not have scales were specially bred in tanks. Those who encroached on the life of cats were severely punished. The cat was protected by law and the one who dared to raise a hand against her was threatened with the death penalty. After the death of cats, they were buried according to a ritual reminiscent of a human burial: the owners of the cat and their relatives shaved their eyebrows as a sign of mourning, and the cat's body was embalmed. The finished mummy was sewn up in a linen shroud or enclosed in a sarcophagus and placed in one of the countless necropolises specially designed for cats and lined along the banks of the Nile.

John Weguelin, Commemoration of the Cat in Ancient Egypt, 1886.

At the end of the last century, several tens of thousands of cat mummies were found near the village of Beni Gasan in Lower Egypt. The worship of the cat in Egypt was so great that in 525 BC, according to legend, this led to terrible consequences. The Persian king Cambyses decided to capture the Nile Valley. The Persians did not know how to storm the fortified cities and were forced to stop at the walls of the city of Pelusia. Cambyses came up with a brilliant idea: by his order, each soldier fastened a live cat on his chest so that it was clearly visible. The army moved forward, protected by human shields. The Egyptians were afraid to hurt or kill the sacred animals and surrendered. Cambyses conquered Egypt and founded the 27th dynasty. (Bernard Brie. Wild cats. M.: Dialogue, 1995)

A hunting scene with a cat found in a Theban tomb.

Egyptian plastic art has left us many wonderful figurines of beautiful cats. The art of Egypt has always been famous for depicting animals. The animalistic plastic art of Egypt reached great development in the Sais period (663 - 525 BC).

In the 7th century BC, Egypt was unified under the rule of the pharaohs, who founded the 26th dynasty. The city of Sais became the capital of an independent state. The culture of this era was characterized by an appeal to the traditions of the Old Kingdom, the desire to idealize the distant past. Sais masters, borrowing ancient artistic canons, created a unique style, cold and refined; reached a high technical level.

In the museums of our country, among the various genres and types of Egyptian art, animalistic sculpture is also presented. Bronze figurines of cats of the Sais period are exhibited in the Hermitage, the Pushkin Museum, the Museum of the Arts of the Oriental People, etc. In the Arkhangelskoye Museum-Estate near Moscow there is a figurine with a mummified head of a cat inside. This sculpture, brought to Russia in 1850, was found in the pyramids of Saqqara in Lower Egypt, near Memphis.

Bronze figurines of cats are distinguished by the finest surface modeling. Soft contours emphasize the plasticity of the body, an elegant silhouette. The naturalness and grace of the beast are masterfully conveyed. The figurines from the Hermitage have necklaces around their necks, scarabs on their heads and eyes inlaid with gold.

Made with love, these figurines are exquisite and at the same time they are discreetly aloof, even strict. As if reminding everyone that Bastet is a merciful hypostasis of the formidable lion-headed goddess Sokhmet, the daughter of the sun god Ra, who supports Maat - universal harmony - and punishes those who violate it.

An ancient Egyptian inscription on an obelisk in Nebra reads: "Oh, wonderful cat, bestowed forever." The cult of this little predator began in the days of the Old Kingdom and lasted for many centuries. Never, in any state of the world, this graceful animal was revered as in the country of the pyramids. Cats in ancient Egypt were not just full members of Egyptian families and favorite pets of the pharaohs, people assigned them a divine status and erected temples and even entire cities in their honor. It was a golden age in cat history.

The role of the cat in ancient Egypt: why were these animals deified?

Ancient figurines of Egyptian cats

The past of Ancient Egypt and the history of the domestication of wild cats are inextricably linked, since it was in the country of the pyramids that the ancestors of modern cats first began to live next to humans. This is evidenced by many sources dated to the III millennium BC.

Even then, on the paintings in the tombs of noble citizens and even the pharaoh himself, fluffy animals were depicted living in the house as honorary family members and wearing special collars. Egyptian artists tried to draw the sacred animal in any form and pose on gravestones or papyri. Sculptors sculpted them from gold, bronze, stone or wood, molded them from clay, and carved them from elephant tusks. Young Egyptian women always kept with them amulets with cat images, which were called "utchat" and were a symbol of childbearing.

Thanks to frescoes and other art objects decorated with graceful cat figurines, it also became known that the Egyptians called their pets “miu” or “miut”. There is an assumption that cats got such a nickname because of the meowing sounds they make. This name was also given to girls to emphasize their beauty, grace and softness.

The inhabitants of the country of the pyramids greatly honored furry animals. They admired their cleanliness and grace. A special secret for a person was the secret twilight lifestyle of a cat, its eyes glowing in the dark, silent gait, independent disposition. These unusual and inexplicable qualities awed the ancient people and instilled in their hearts boundless respect for the freedom-loving beast. In addition, mystical abilities were also attributed to the cat - according to the Egyptians, she could visit the other world.

Therefore, cats were welcome guests in many temple complexes of Ancient Egypt. There they were fed with fresh fish, which was specially bred in ponds. The care of temple animals was carried out by priests - "guardians of cats" and was one of the most honorable services in the state. Moreover, this respected profession was proudly inherited from father to children. Superstitious Egyptians believed that temple animals could predict the future. Therefore, the priests carefully followed their every gesture, and then interpreted the signs, believing that the gods themselves communicate with them in this way.

The practical side of the issue

The veneration of the cat in ancient Egypt also had economic prerequisites, in addition to mystical ones. In those distant times, the state was engaged exclusively in agricultural activities and was famous throughout the world for its rich harvest of grain crops. In fact, the life of the country of the pyramids directly depended on the amount of wheat grown and its preservation.

But the harvest was often completely destroyed by countless hordes of rodents. It was then that the ancient Egyptians paid attention to fluffy animals, each of which was able to save up to ten tons of grain per year. Thus, cats were vital animals for the survival of an entire nation.

And small predators deftly destroyed poisonous horned vipers, of which there were a great many in those lands. Cats were taken for hunting as game animals, they got birds and fish.

Thanks to the cat mummies that have survived to this day, archaeologists and scientists have managed to find out what these animals looked like in those distant times. They were small in size, thin, graceful and mostly of a solid reddish color.

The meaning of the goddess Bastet in a religious cult

Archaeologists suggest that the names of several hundred gods were listed in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. But one of the most popular deities included in the "sacred nine" (nine supreme deities) was considered a young and beautiful girl with a cat's head - the goddess Bastet (Bast).

Her statues were carved from stone, made of gold or bronze. In her hands she held a sistrum (a musical instrument), and four kittens frolicked at the feet of the goddess. Sacred prayers were carved on the bases of these statues and obelisks: “I am a cat, the mother of life. She can bestow life and strength, all the health and joy of the heart.”

The cats of Egypt were revered in a double guise: the sun god himself was often depicted in the form of a red cat (the male form of Bastet). And in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Great Matu is depicted - a white cat that saved humanity from the serpent Apep.

Sometimes the goddess was depicted with a lion's head to emphasize the duality of nature. This is connected with one interesting legend about the daughter of the supreme god Ra, who could take the form of a lioness - Sekhmed (or Muut). She was the mistress of the desert, a formidable and merciless goddess of war and the scorching sun. As weapons, she had the sultry winds of samum and arrows that hit enemies in the heart.

Despite the absurd nature, Sehmed was considered the guardian of the world and the protector of the human race. Thousands of believers prayed to her in moments of danger and asked for protection from ill-wishers.

According to the myth, Ra sent Muut to earth to punish the recalcitrant people. But having once got to mere mortals, the cruel goddess tasted human blood, became mad and crossed all permitted boundaries. She began to mercilessly exterminate humanity. Then the god Onuris decided to deceive the lioness and doused the earth with beer tinted red (according to another version, red wine).

Confusing the drink with blood, she began to lap it up and soon became drunk. It was then that the gods turned the bloodthirsty wild animal into a fluffy miniature cat. Therefore, in addition to the refined feline essence, Bast also had a second dark nature of the cruel predator Sekhmed. Over time, this myth was forgotten, and after 2000 BC, the images of Bastet changed significantly - they began to depict her exclusively in the form of a graceful cat.

In the country of the pyramids, Bast personified life itself, the fertility of women and the earth, was the patroness of the hearth and protector of the pharaoh and his family. In addition, the royal goddess was associated with solar and moonlight. She was given the power to open the dawn of a new morning.

Also, the cat goddess was honored as the patroness of pregnant and childbirth girls, since these animals are easy to kitten. The ancient Egyptians believed that Bast protects children from the bites of poisonous snakes and scorpions, as well as serious illnesses. Therefore, amulets with the image of a cat were made for newborns, and appropriate tattoos were applied to older children.

Temples built in honor of a woman with a cat's head

In the religion of ancient Egypt, the divine cat was of great importance and influence. In her honor, near the Nile Delta, a religious center of worship was built - the city of Bubastis, in which there was a most beautiful temple dedicated to the cat goddess, according to the description of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. It was here that the annual religious celebrations associated with the cat cult were held, where many pilgrims flocked from all over the country. Archaeologists even found in the ancient city the largest burial of mummified furry animals (about three hundred thousand mummies).

It is also known that in the temple complex of Sakkara, not far from the step pyramid of Djoserra, the Egyptians erected a large sanctuary in honor of the cat. In its center stood a gigantic statue of Bastet, made of expensive Aswan marble. During religious celebrations, the statue was taken out of the temple, loaded into a boat and transported along the river banks.

Historians associate such an elevation of the goddess with a cat's head with serious political changes in the country of the pyramids, when the central power passed from the Upper Kingdom to the Lower, and the state had a new capital - Per-Bast (the house of Bast). The cult of Bastet lasted on Egyptian soil until the 4th century AD.

Little Known Facts

The descendants of the sacred Nubian cats are the modern Egyptian Mau, who became famous throughout the world due to their natural leopard color. There is also a version that the first cats of the country of the pyramids were descendants of reed and steppe cats. A special role at the court of the pharaoh was played by hairless animals - sphinxes, which eventually disappeared from the territory of Egypt and were reborn in Canada only in the 70s of the XX century.

Interesting facts about ancient Egyptian cats, which only emphasize their importance for the inhabitants of the country of the pyramids:

• Almost all ordinary Egyptians had their own furry favorite. They left fresh fish for her as a treat, looked after her as the most honorable member of the family, and believed that for this she would protect all the residents of the house. If a fire suddenly started, the pet was taken out of the flaming building first and only then the children.
• The Egyptians protected the sacred cat and prevented its export outside the country, since the animal was the property of the pharaoh himself. Violation of this rule was punishable by death, and animals that left the state were returned home with the help of a ransom or kidnapping.
• Even for the unintentional murder of a small rat-catcher, the criminal paid with his own life. The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus testified to the case when one of the Romans accidentally drove over the animal in a chariot and was torn to pieces by angry Egyptians for this.
• If a furry pet died, her funeral was held with great honors and funeral songs, and the owners shaved their eyebrows and hair on their heads as a tribute and plunged into a long 70-day mourning.

The dead animals were mummified by wrapping them in linen cloth with ornaments and sacred prayers, and anointing the body with incense and oils. It was believed that the soul of a pet, thanks to this rite, would gain the ability to be reborn in a new body. Wealthy citizens put a golden mask on the mummy, placed it in a wooden, bronze or gold sarcophagus and left their favorite toys and embalmed mouse carcasses in the tomb.

Photo of a mummy of a cat exhibited in the Louvre

But the worship of a fluffy pet once played a cruel joke on the Egyptians. According to the records of the historian Ptolemy, in 525 BC. cats negatively affected the results of the siege by the Persian troops of the border city of Pelusium. Circumstances forced the Persians to stand under the walls, since they were not distinguished by their ability to storm well-defended cities.

Then King Cambyses II ordered to catch a lot of cats and tie them to the armor and shields of the soldiers walking ahead of the whole army. Seeing this, the Egyptians did not dare to use spears and arrows, so as not to cripple a single sacred animal. As a result, the battle was lost. But in spite of everything, cats continued to be deified in Egypt until the conquest of the country by the Greeks, and a little later by the Roman legions.