Why were cats considered sacred animals in ancient Egypt?

Goddess Bastet

Love and beauty, fertility and prosperity were personified in Ancient Egypt by the goddess Bastet (cat goddess). She was also considered the mother of all cats. It is known that these animals were especially revered in the ancient state and are still revered to this day.

In myths, she appears either affectionate and graceful, or vengeful and insidious. Indeed, these qualities are inherent in furry pets.

The deity is depicted in different ways. Sometimes it is a woman with a cat's head, and sometimes it is a black cat.

Image of the Egyptian goddess Bastet

There are figurines symbolizing Bastet with a lion's head. There are also explanations about this in the Egyptian epic. The powerful Ra was considered the father of the divine woman. As he grew old, he lost influence. The subjects rebelled against God. Ra turned to his daughter for help. She took the form of a ferocious lion, descended to the ground and brought down righteous anger on the people.

The image of the deity was always richly decorated. They used gold, precious stones, and silver.

In her hands, the goddess Bastet could hold a scepter and a sistrum or a basket with kittens.

Accessories had different meanings:

A basket with baby cats was a symbol of fertility, the emergence of new life;
The scepter represented power;
Sistrum was a sign of fun and celebration.

It is known that Egyptian women began to draw eyeliner so brightly that they resembled the patroness of all women, Bastet.

Egyptian women used eyeliner to resemble their patroness.

Each house had its own Bastet figurine, depending on what the owners wanted to receive. In Egypt, in some places, celebrations are still organized in honor of Bastet. The celebration takes place in mid-April. On this day, residents go to the banks of the Nile and lower a boat with a statue of the goddess into the waters. The day passes with joy, singing and dancing.

Widespread worship only ceased in the 4th century AD. Then the Romans came to power. Persecution of the furry purrs and mass extermination began.

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"O wonderful cat, granted forever."
Inscription on the obelisk in Nebra, Ancient Egypt. Throughout the history of their existence, the Egyptians treated animals with reverence, revering some of them as shrines. Cats in ancient Egypt occupied first places in the hierarchy of such shrines.

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

In Ancient Egypt, there was a very significant cult of the cat goddess 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 this goddess: “She can give life and strength, all the health and joy of the heart” or “I am a cat, the mother of life.” In her honor, cats were worshiped, they were mummified, and a mouse was placed nearby so that the cats would have something to entertain and eat in the afterlife.

The cult of the cat appeared in the most ancient period of Egyptian history (the second dynasty) and lasted until the 1st century BC. The religious center of worship was the city of Bubastis, where, according to the Greek historian Herodotus, the most beautiful temple in Egypt, dedicated to Bastet, was located. In the main sanctuary there was a huge statue of the goddess.

Statue of the goddess Bastet (Bast) in the Temple of Bubastis

The great historians of antiquity Herodotus and Diodorus wrote in their works how every year, seven times a year, one hundred thousand priests gathered in the temple in Bubastis for the great commemoration of the divine cat. During the annual spring festivals, the statue was taken out of the temple and solemnly transported on a boat along the banks of the Nile. These sacred animals were bred there and it was there that a large number of cat mummies were preserved.

Bast (Bastet)

Cat Goddess. Goddess of the sun, joy and fun. She personified warmth. She was considered all-seeing and took the place of guard under the sun god Ra. She embodied feminine and maternal qualities:

grace, beauty and affection...

Often the goddess was depicted as a woman with the head of a cat, in her right hand she had a musical instrument - a sistrum, and in her left hand - a mirror, and four kittens were located at her feet.

This is how the goddess of fertility was personified by the Egyptians.

Bastet (Bast), as a rule, in the images was dressed in a green robe. Traditionally associated with the sun, fertility and successful childbirth for women. The Egyptians elevated the goddess of fertility to the rank of a national deity.

Bast was the goddess of fire, the Moon, childbirth, fertility, pleasure, benevolence, fun, sexual rites, music, dance, protection from disease and evil spirits, intuition, healing, marriage and all animals (especially cats).

Bast has two incarnations - a woman with a cat's head (kind essence) and a lion's head (aggressive).

According to other sources in Egypt, the cat was associated with both Bast and Pasht (Moon). Pasht was the dark aspect of Bast, the Lady of the East, the mother of all cats, the wife of the god Ptah. Although she was considered the embodiment of the life-giving energy and gentle warmth of the Sun, through her sacred cats she was also connected with the Moon.

Bast was also the patroness of children and the guardian of the harvest. Her figurines were kept in houses to ward off evil spirits.

Bastet
cult - the Second Dynasty. Worshiped until the 1st century. AD

Genealogy:

Daughter and wife of the sun god Ra, wife of Ptah, mother of Mahes and Khensu.

Iconography:

She was depicted as a woman with the head of a cat.

Attribute

: Musical instrument sist.

Sacred animal

- a cat that reflected the agility and strength of the goddess.

Bast's own sacred cats were black cats; Egyptian doctors placed an image of a black cat on their houses as a symbol of their profession. The image of a cat adorned the sistrum and, sometimes, the mirror of Hathor. This animal represented the Moon.

This cat personified divinity, inaccessible to mere mortals. Even the supreme sun god Ra was called the “great cat.” The influence of lighting on the size of a cat's pupil was associated by the ancient Egyptians with the movement of the solar god in a chariot along celestial rivers. And the cat's eyes, burning in the dark, according to the beliefs of the Egyptians, emit daylight - the light of a fiery chariot.

The first hieroglyphs that were used to represent the words "cat" and "cat" date back to the fifth and sixth dynasties of the Egyptian pharaohs (circa 2300 BC). Today they are transcribed as "mint" and "miu". Transcription of the hieroglyphs “miw” for the masculine gender and “miwt” for the feminine (in Russian there is a similar onomatopoeia in the verb “meow”).

Numerous drawings and figurines depicting cats have reached us. The rising sun was personified by the scarab beetle, which was always present on the chest of animals.

In the Heliopolis sanctuary, the symbol of the supreme god was a statue of a cat of gigantic size, the pupils of which changed depending on the direction of the sun's rays. The statue, which released a stream of water every hour, also served to tell the time. According to legend, the cat statue depicted an animal that died in a fight with the evil snake Apep.

Presumably, the domestication of cats occurred in Egypt during the 3rd millennium BC. e. Before becoming a pet, valued for its gentleness, gracefulness and carefree nature, the cat was first and foremost a protective animal. Hunting for small rodents, they protected the barns where the Egyptians stored their provisions (primarily wheat), which was vital for this agricultural people.

By hunting rats, cats eliminated the source of serious diseases (such as plague). Finally, by hunting snakes (usually horned vipers), they made the surrounding area safer.

At the beginning of the historical period called the Middle Kingdom, Egypt grew into a powerful power. The basis of this power were grain storage facilities. As long as they were filled, the country could calmly survive a possible flood of the Nile. This was the cat’s finest hour – the rodent exterminator.

The practical importance of the cat in Ancient Egypt was so great that it was during this period that the cat began to be considered a sacred animal. The Egyptians deified cats, seeing them as creatures capable of embodying the images of specific gods. The great sun god Ra, who defeated Apophis, the serpent of darkness, took the form of a huge cat. Ra was sometimes called the Great Cat. Artists depicted his duel with the snake of darkness as follows: with one paw the cat presses the head of the snake, and in the other holds a knife.

But the real goddess of cats was the lion-headed Bastet. The Egyptians considered the cat to be the sacred animal of the goddess Bastet, personifying joy, fun, health and love of life. Here is what the famous philosopher H. P. Blavatsky (1831-1891) writes about the attitude of the Egyptians to the cult of the cat in the book “The Evolution of Symbolism”: “They noticed the simple fact that a cat sees in the dark and that its pupils become completely round and especially luminous at night.

The moon was the voyeur in the night skies, and the cat was her equivalent on earth…. And from here it followed that the sun, looking down into the underworld during the night, could also be called a cat, as it was, for it also saw in the darkness. The cat was called in Egyptian “mau”, which means sighted, from the verb mau - to see…. The moon, like a cat, was the eye of the sun, because it reflects the light of the sun and because the eye reflects an image in its mirror.”

The cult of the cat reached its peak during the 12th and 13th dynasties of the Egyptian pharaohs (circa 1800 BC). The temple of the goddess Bastet in the eastern part of the Nile Delta has become a place of pilgrimage. The main center of the Egyptians became a huge necropolis near the temple. Here they buried embalmed dead cats, placing them in decorated sarcophagi along with toys and food (such as mummified mice) for the long journey to the afterlife. Not far from Beni Hassan, 180 thousand cat mummies were discovered. As a sign of mourning, people mourning cats shaved their eyebrows.

Egyptians from all parts of the kingdom brought symbols of devotion to the goddess in the form of small cat figurines made of ceramics and bronze. Bronze cat figurines are distinguished by the finest surface modeling.

Soft contours emphasize the plasticity of the body and graceful silhouette. The naturalness and grace of the animal are masterfully conveyed...

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 the merciful hypostasis of the formidable lion-headed goddess Sokhmet, daughter of the sun god Ra, who supports Maat - universal harmony - and punishes those who who violates it.

Cat figurines were usually richly decorated by the Egyptians. The figurines from the Hermitage have necklaces on the neck, scarabs on the crown and eyes inlaid with gold.

A study of mummies from cat tombs in Bubastit, Siut and Beni Hassan showed that the cats of the Middle Kingdom were subjected to selection (artificial selection): the skeleton, teeth and coat pigmentation were already significantly different from those of the original steppe cat.

Egyptian cats were deified. Luxurious temples were built for them, their bodies were mummified, and thousands of pilgrims flocked to them from all over the country.

From time immemorial, Egyptian cats have been surrounded by a mystical aura. Their eyes were considered windows to another world, and, thanks to their changeability, animals were often compared to the Sun.

Egyptian priests found many analogies between the nature of the cat and the sun. First of all, these are the eyes of the Cat.

The sun rises, the pupils of the cat's eyes become smaller. The sun is setting in the evening, the cat's eyes widen.

When the Sun has disappeared, the cat looks at the world with wide pupils, round and luminous. The cat's eyes are two smaller suns. A cat's eyes are magical windows into other worlds in which you can see a lot.

Cats are guests of the world of the dead in our manifested world.

It is believed that a vampire or other dark entity will never set foot in a house where cats live. The fact is that cats see them...

You can often notice “oddities” in a cat’s behavior when it suddenly freezes and stares intently at some point. This is how she communicates with the world invisible to us.

At Bubastis, the main center of the Bast cult in Lower Egypt, sacred cats lived in the temple courtyard. Caring for them was considered a special honor; this right was passed from son to father.

In order to take care of the welfare of the cats living in the temple, a caste of priests was organized. Bastet's servants occupied the highest government positions. A priest accused of inappropriate treatment of sacred cats was severely punished.

The priests carefully watched the cats, trying not to miss the slightest sign given by them... a message from the goddess Bast, in order to then interpret this message.

A believer seeking the help of the goddess or wishing to make a vow shaved part of his child's head and took the haircut to the temple. The hair was placed on a scale and balanced with silver. Then the believer gave this silver to the caretaker of the sacred cats, who cut off an appropriate portion from the fish that served as food for them and gave it to the cats.

In the families of ordinary Egyptians, cats were also considered sacred and were surrounded with care and attention.

The Egyptians loved their domestic cats, which were depicted lying on their owner's lap or under their seat. Plutarch describes how the Egyptians carefully bred cats, selecting pairs that were suitable for their character.

The sacred cats were fed milk and bread, and fish that had no scales were specially bred in tanks for them. Those who attempted to take the lives of cats were severely punished. The cat was protected by law and anyone who dared to raise a hand against it faced the death penalty.

Cats were called “good spirits of the home.” People everywhere gave way to these graceful animals. Cats in Egypt were the first to be taken out of houses during fires, and their owners saved them, often risking their own lives.

If a cat died, then its funeral was held with great honor.

After death, cats were buried in a ritual reminiscent of human burial: the cat's owners and their relatives shaved their eyebrows as a sign of mourning, and the cat's body was embalmed. The Egyptians believed that the soul of the mistress of the house after death moved into a cat.

The body of the deceased cat was wrapped in linen cloth, anointed with herbs and mummified using balm. To prevent cats from starving in the afterlife, mummified mice and shrews were placed in the sarcophagus with them. The cats of the rich were wrapped in colored linen with intricate patterns. A mask with ears made from the stems of palm leaves was placed on her face. The mummy was placed in a wooden or straw wicker box, sometimes decorated with gold, crystal or obsidian. Even kittens were buried in small bronze coffins.

The most revered cats were those that lived in temples. Their funerals were sometimes so pompous and expensive that special taxes were levied on the population to pay for them.

The sarcophagus with the mummy was placed in one of the countless necropolises specially designed for cats and built along the banks of the Nile. The mourning lasted seventy days - the time of all mummification. Sometimes a cat accompanies its owner to the afterlife in the guise of a figurine (or a carved design on coffins). Images of cats can also be found on numerous vases, jewelry and dishes, as well as in drawings (under the place of a woman, as a protective symbol).

During excavations in the city of Beni Hasana, archaeologists discovered an entire cat cemetery in which one hundred and eighty thousand cats were laid to rest.

However, the large number of cat mummies discovered may also be due to their small size (it is easier to bury a cat than a bull).

The veneration of the cat did not end at the family level. It was nationwide. State laws protected cats as best they could.

For example, it was strictly forbidden to take cats outside the country. Probably, the Egyptians wanted to be a monopoly in the field of cat breeding. However, the forbidden fruit is always sweet. And the stricter the laws, the more hunters there were to take the cat out of Egypt. For the Phoenicians it even became a matter of honor. Thanks to their desire to piss off the Egyptians, cats soon spread throughout the Mediterranean.

The Egyptians believed that one cat could give them 28 kittens in 7 years. Even without mentioning its “holiness,” the fertile cat had high material value. She was a symbol of the prosperity of the Egyptian.

This love for cats once turned against the Egyptians. Knowing that no Egyptian could kill a cat, the insidious Persians used this in their war with Egypt. They covered themselves with cats as shields, thanks to which they won.

Some scientists argue that even before the heyday of the culture of Ancient Egypt, there was a civilization whose scientific and technological achievements surpassed even the modern level.

However, after natural disasters wiped out a great civilization from the face of the earth, only legends, myths and superstitions remained from it... Perhaps many, like me, are interested in the question of the origin of cats. Where did they come from? Where is their homeland? The answer to this question may lie here in our memories of the past...

...945 BC. A small boat sails along the calm Nile...

In the boat, two figures in white are visible, they stand next to each other: a mature man, tall, fit. With one hand he holds on to the high bow of the boat, placing the other hand on the shoulder of his son, just a boy. They slowly approach the magnificent city.

“Father, tell me about this city and why we and thousands of other people are sailing here?” - "My son! We are sailing to the beautiful city of Bubastis - our capital, for the annual festival of the cat goddess Bast... The kind-hearted Bast is known for her healing miracles. She is revered as the cheerful goddess of healing, music, happiness and joy. Thousands of pilgrims rush to the Bubasis festival. A huge temple was erected in her honor, there is a water canal next to the temple, all the streets intersect at this holy place. I will teach you a prayer: “Oh, Bast, moon-faced, powerful healer, beloved by millions. Clear one in your temple, open your doors before me, illuminate my soul with your light, penetrate deep into my spirit, heal all my ailments...” Well, here we are, let’s hurry to the temple.”

The boy was deeply shocked by the extraordinary sight that greeted him. The magnificent temple sparkles in the sun, everyone admires its snow-white columns and beautiful details. Laughter and joyful exclamations are heard throughout the area. Singing and clapping, the pilgrims ascend to the temple, shaking their rattles - a symbol of fertility.

The husband of the goddess in Bubastis was considered Atum, the son was the formidable Mahes - the god of storms and rage, revered in the guise, again, of a lion. The goddess was revered in other significant cities of Lower Egypt - primarily in Memphis, where she was identified with Sekhmet, and in Iunu, where she was the daughter of Atum, the solar creator. It is known that the festival of the cat goddess took place not only in Lower Egypt, but also in the south - in Thebes and Esna.

At the main entrance is a statue of the cat goddess, a goddess who had the power of the Sun and Moon to bring mental health. Bast is depicted as a woman with a cat's head, with kittens at her feet...

Cat figurines are sold all around, and the temple is home to many cats. In order to take care of their well-being, an almost militarized caste of priests is organized. Bast's servants occupy government positions.

The duties of the priests include healing, worship, and mummification of dead cats. Priests could be both men and women.

One of the main points of attraction is the colossal necropolis near the temple. Here, embalmed deceased beloved cats were buried, placed in decorated sarcophagi along with toys and food, which, according to the ancient Egyptians, was necessary in the other world.

The pharaoh himself attended the ceremonies in honor of the cat goddess. Ancient Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century. BC. visited the temple at Bubastis, about which he wrote: “There is no temple so pleasing to the eye as this one at Bubastis.”

We find the very first mentions of cats in the hieroglyphic writing of the ancient Egyptians. Lions and cats already had their own symbols with the designation “miu” or “mau”. About 2.5 thousand years BC. in the inscriptions of the pyramids of the V and VI dynasties of the pharaohs there are symbols denoting cats - this was the heyday of their cult.

The cult of cats was so great that it continued for more than 2 thousand years and was only abolished in 390 AD. Each city of Ancient Egypt had its own totem, i.e. guardian deity.

The cat had several cities where she was revered above other gods. May dog lovers forgive me, but although the dog was one of the favorite animals of the Egyptians, it was never considered a deity.

And the Egyptian god Anubis - the guide of the souls of the dead - upon detailed study, still had the head of a jackal. As for the cat, it was and is the real protector of man from invisible forces.

The ancient Egyptians, Tibetans, Tahitians and other peoples of the past, who possessed wisdom and knowledge, were well aware of this fact.

Anyone who wants to look into the history of Ancient Egypt will immediately notice the special attention to animals from the cat family.

An ancient legend says: “The shining Ra (the rising Sun) sailed on his solar canoe across the heavens from east to west, making sure to avoid meeting the serpent Apep (the darkness of ignorance), who was subsequently defeated by Ra’s daughter, the cat goddess Bast.” From all of the above it follows that in the thinking of the Egyptians, the cat gods, and, in particular, Bast, had a very special meaning.

The Egyptians looked at the cat not only as a beloved creature, but as a representative of the deity. And therefore they treated her with respect and respect...

God Anubis

...then what they received from her had a different quality, carried more purity and light, she became for them a transmitter of divine energies.

At the same time, these goddesses were considered as guardians of the area and property, and the carved figurines had a deep symbolic meaning. The Greeks called these sculptures "sphinxes". This is the name given to the immortal cat that appeared in 1966 in Ontario, Canada, for its resemblance to ancient Egyptian figurines and those cats that in those distant times “guarded” the pyramids and pharaohs.

The cat, associated with femininity and mystery, became a favorite inhabitant of temples and homes for the Egyptians.

The cat was so popular among the Egyptians that theophoric names were widespread among the populations of the Nile coast, which included the name of the goddess Bastet, for example Padibast - “The one whom Bastet gave”, Tashenubast - “Daughter of Bastet”, Nakhtbastetru - “Strong is Bastet against them ", Ankhbastet - "Long live Bastet."

The oldest images of cats in a religious context (amulets made of bone or faience) were found in the Badari necropolis and date back to the end of the Old Kingdom. Wearing them on the body provided constant protection from any dangers...

Later cats appear on the so-called. magic wands of the Middle Kingdom era, which were made from hippopotamus bone and were intended to protect the premises and, especially, the pregnant mistress of the house. On their surface there are preserved images of strange demonic creatures, spirits and animals, among which a cat sometimes appears - the destroyer of evil, personified in the form of snakes. In its front paws the cat often holds a knife designed to cut off the heads of enemies, just like the great sun cat of Iunu.

Throughout the history of Pharaonic Egypt, the cat never exhausted its symbolic image of a protector, sometimes also associated with healing...

The cat in these cases is depicted with some lion-like features, which clearly indicates its formidable role and the fact that, as a peaceful inhabitant of the house and everyone’s favorite, she got along in the guise of the goddess Bastet with the fierce lion-headed patroness of the king, whose name was first mentioned on a stone vessel from Saqqara, which retained the name of the king of the II dynasty Hetepsekhmui. The symbolic connection between the cat and its formidable brother, the lion, is present, centuries later, on the false doors in the Theban tombs of the nobles of the 18th dynasty Kenamon and Amenemhet Surer, who are guarded by cats symmetrically depicted above the doorway to the other world, guardians of the boundary of two spaces. This role in Egyptian art was most often occupied by lions or hybrid creatures with a lion's body - sphinxes.

The consonance between the verbal designation of a cat (miit) and the name of Maat, the goddess of truth, may have led to the fact that in a number of later bronze figurines of sacred cats, the image of the goddess becomes part of the animal’s necklace, and her sacred feather becomes a symbol, the shape of which is used to stylize the fine fur inside cat ears. Images of cats are often found on ritual objects associated with various hypostases of Hathor, in particular on the sistras, where she appears as the incarnation of the Heliopolitan goddess Nebethetepet, associated with the sexual energy of the creator god, transformed into a goddess. In this context, the cat clearly appears as a symbol of fertility, sexuality and attractiveness.

The connection between the cat and the lioness - two aspects of the formidable and predictable nature of the female deity - was strongly emphasized.

Thus, one of the figurines depicts the lion-headed Sekhmet sitting on a throne and placing her feet on the outstretched figures of captive foreigners, while the cat Bastet sat on their feet. The reproductive functions of Bastet, often surrounded by kittens, and her sexual power were the keys through which the goddess became the peaceful and affectionate mother of the king, the protector of those lost in the night and, in general, the “other” side of Sekhmet, echoing the words of the famous “Teaching of Ankhsheshonq”: “ When a man smells of myrrh, his wife is like a cat in front of him. When a man is in suffering, his wife is like a lioness in front of him.” The same Ankhsheshonk, probably hinting that the character of the cat is unpredictable and its transformation into Sekhmet is very fast, reminds: “Don’t laugh at the cat.”

The cult of cats that existed in Egypt also affected other countries. Thus, traces of his influence can be found in Gaul, in particular in Toulouse, where amulets, figurines, musical instruments - sistrum - with images of cats were found (local archaeological finds date back most likely to the 1st century BC), and in the UK: in Badbury, Gasse, All Saints and Danbury, archaeologists excavated mass graves of cats.

Egyptian artists depicted hundreds of cats on tomb slabs and papyrus. They sculpted them from bronze, gold, stone and wood, made them from clay, and carved them from ivory. Young Egyptian women wore amulets with images of cats, which were called “uchat” and were a symbol of fertility. The girls prayed to the gods to fulfill their desire to have as many children as the kittens depicted on their amulet.

A cat is an amazing creature. There is no animal with a more complex character and such a controversial and rich history. At first she was worshiped as a deity, then she was seen as a servant of the devil, and now she is again an idol.

In terms of numbers, the cat will soon become the most popular pet on Earth. Even the laziest domestic cat is a natural hunter. “I am a cat that walks by itself.” With these words, Kipling immortalized the cat's inherent spirit of independence. Let her live in our house, accept our way of life, but she allowed herself to be tamed only on her own terms. And was the domestic cat truly domesticated?

The Egyptian Mau (Mao) is considered to be the oldest natural breed in nature. She has every right to be considered a direct descendant of the first domesticated cats of ancient Egypt.

In Egypt, humans and cats share a long-standing bond. She was revered as a goddess even before she was domesticated. For more than a millennium she was the national deity. The worship of cats goes back even further than the time of the sphinxes with their human head and lion's body.

PS: Since I simply adore cats and I really like everything connected with the culture of Ancient Egypt, as one of the most mysterious countries of the Ancient World, I decided that in my diary there would be a lot of cats, varied, for every taste and a lot of Egyptian themes. So don’t blame me for some monotony of topics... But that’s for now... since my interests are not limited to cats and Egypt. But, unfortunately, there is not enough time for everything you want yet...

Series of messages “The History of the Cat”:
Part 1 - The history of the birth of a small miracle Part 2 - The cult of the cat in Ancient Egypt. Goddess Bastet. Part 3 - Divine cats in ancient culture and their mistresses Part 4 - The cult of the cat in Mesopotamia Part 5 - The history of cats in Great Britain: success - tragedy - worship... Part 6 - The history of cats in the East: can't it be more ancient?

Series of messages “Cult of the Cat”:
Part 1 - Cult of the Cat in Ancient Egypt. Goddess Bastet. Part 2 - Divine cats in ancient culture and their mistresses Part 3 - The cult of the cat in Mesopotamia Part 4 - The history of cats in Great Britain: success - tragedy - worship... Part 5 - The history of cats in the East: it doesn’t get older?

In Egypt, the cat was associated with both Bast and Pasht (Moon). Pasht was the dark aspect of Bast, the Lady of the East, the mother of all cats, the wife of the god Ptah. Although she was considered the embodiment of the life-giving energy and gentle warmth of the Sun, through her sacred cats she was also connected with the Moon. • The cat was the most sacred animal of the Egyptians. In the temple of Bast there lived especially sacred cats, which were ceremonially embalmed after their death. Killing a cat was punishable by death. Bast's own sacred cats were black cats; Egyptian doctors placed images of black cats on their houses as a symbol of their profession. The image of a cat adorned the sistrum and, sometimes, the mirror of Hathor. This animal represented the Moon. In the language of the Egyptians, the cat was called "mau". This animal became a domestic animal in ancient times and was highly valued as a snake killer. The Egyptians called the lynx (a wild cat with furry ears) “Maftet” and considered it a benevolent and protective animal. She also exterminated snakes. Bast was depicted as a woman with a cat's head. She had a sistrum in her right hand and a mirror in her left. As a rule, she was dressed in a green robe. She was the goddess of fire, the moon, childbirth, fertility, pleasure, benevolence, fun, sexual rites, music, dance, protection from disease and evil spirits, intuition, healing, marriage and all animals (especially cats). To please Bast, a shrine could be erected in a forest or garden dedicated to the spirits of Nature and wild animals. This shrine was to have a cat statue representing the goddess. To have Bast bless you and your pet cats, place a painted or sculptured image of a cat on your altar. The image can represent any cat, both domestic and wild. Place your photo (or a photo of your whole family) and a photo of your cat there. Place two green candles on the altar. This ritual can be performed alone or as part of the drawing of a magic circle. Take the sistrum and slowly walk (dance) around the ritual area, shaking the sistrum. Start at the eastern point and move clockwise. Chant: Joy comes from Bast, Lady of Cats. The Goddess loves and protects all animals. As a daughter (son) of Bast, I call upon her to pour out her blessing upon me. Return to the altar and shake the systrum and say: Hello, Bast, Lady of Cats. Hello, goddess of earthly pleasures. Teach me to enjoy my existence. Teach me to love and be happy. If you have photographs of your cat(s), look at them with love and tenderness. If there are no photographs, recreate the image of the cat in your imagination. Call the cat by name, as if introducing her to the goddess. Be alert, for you will most likely soon feel the presence of the goddess. When you're done, grab the sistrum and go to the eastern point. Shake the systrum five times. Say: Bast's ears hear every harmful word directed against me and my cat. My cat and I are protected. Go to the southern point, shake the sistrum five times and say: The sharp claws of Bast protect me. My cat and I are protected. Go to the western point, shake the systrum five times and say: Bast bared her teeth, threatening everyone who wished me harm. My cat and I are protected. Go to the northern point, shake the systrum five times and say: Bast's eyes can see in the dark. Nothing escapes her attention. My cat and I are protected. Return to the altar. Shake the systrum three times and say: Listen carefully, everyone who wants to harm me and my loved ones. A powerful fortress was erected here, an impenetrable shield was created. You can't get in here. Your evil thoughts will come back to you. You cannot open these gates. Imagine a green glow filling the room, caressing you and bathing the photo of your cat. Do not be surprised if the cat herself enters the room at this moment to plunge into this blessed light. Sweet Cat Goddess, I thank you for your blessing. Give us safety, good health and happiness. Protect my little brothers, wherever they are. Blow a kiss to the goddess and extinguish the candles. As a special treat for Bast and your cat, give her a catnip toy to play with. If you want to ask Bast to cure your sick cat, then pick up a photograph of the sick animal and, standing in front of the image of the goddess, chant: Remove the heel of the disease. Bring back your health! Banish the disease completely. Bring back your health! Pour your healing power onto (cat's name). Bast! Bring back your health!

Sacred cats of Egypt - the meaning of the symbol

The cult of the goddess Bastet is associated with the development of agriculture. The Egyptians learned to grow cereals. An infestation of rodents could ruin the entire harvest and cause famine. As a result, cats began to receive special attention. The pets were cared for and cared for. People believed that their lives depended on the welfare of animals.

Note that not every person could afford to have a cat in the house. This was an advantage for the wealthy. In order to somehow protect themselves, people who could not keep animals installed figurines of cats in their houses.

Ancient cat figurine

Bastet also personified fertility and prosperity. Women began to ask the deity for happy motherhood, family well-being, beauty and health.

Since the well-being of the state and a well-fed life in abundance depended on cats, the figurines began to symbolize the same thing as the animals themselves.

The meaning of the magical figurines of Egyptian cats varied:

So, if there was a figurine of a cat with kittens in the house, it means the family dreamed of replenishment, of continuation of the family.
A cat with a musical instrument in its hands said that people want an easy life, unencumbered by worries.
Cats with a scepter meant that the owners wanted to rule, to belong to the powers that be.

Egyptian names and their meanings

The names of the deities of Egypt and Greece are considered good options for nicknames for cats.

For example, a female kitten can be given a nickname:

Amaunet is the progenitor of the Universe.
Anat is the goddess of the hunt.
Astarte is the patroness of love, fertility and abundance.
Bastet is a symbol of female happiness.
Isis is the mother of all gods, a symbol of femininity.
Kebhut is the goddess of cool water.
Mafdet is the patroness of the sun.
Meskhent is the protector of babies.
Naunet is a symbol of the night sky.
Nephthys is the goddess of beauty.
Nekhbet is a symbol of nobility and greatness.
Nut is the patroness of the sky.
Rashida is a symbol of justice.
Sekhmet is the goddess of war.
Sia is the goddess of wisdom.
Taurt is the patroness of mothers and children.
Tefnut is the goddess of power.
Upes is the patroness of fire.

In addition, as a nickname for your cat, you can choose one of the euphonious female and popular names in Egypt that carry some meaning:

Azenet is daddy's daughter.
Azizi is precious.
Aisha is peace-loving.
Akana is a ball.
Amizi is a flower.
Ati is soft like a pillow.
Banafrit is a beautiful soul.
Bahiti – prosperity, abundance, well-being.
Jendayi - grateful.
Yerby is a princess.
Evs is a cat.
Ia is the moon.
Ife – family well-being, love.
Isis is the queen.
Kanika is black.
Kebi - honey.
Kepi is energetic.
Kivu is plump.
Kiya is cheerful.
Quibila is peaceful.
Mandisa is sweet.
Merit is my favorite.
Mert – prefers silence.
Miu is tender.
Monifa is lucky.
Mukarramma - respected.
Naima is friendly.
Nanu is a beauty.
Nebi is a panther.
Nkrumah is born ninth.
Nubit is a golden lady.
Nein is pretty.
Odjit is evil.
Olabisi – brings joy.
Razia is charming, charming.
Rashida is fair.
Rehema - compassionate.
Sajira is small.
Salama – calm.
Sanera is a kitten.
Tabia is talented.
Unique – radiance.
Femi - beloved.
Hagar - abandoned.
Hasina is kind.
Khepri - morning sun.
Cheezy is a mystery.
Shamiz – born first.
Shani is lovely.

For a boy kitten, you can choose one of the following nicknames based on the names of various Egyptian gods and mythical creatures:

Aikhi is the god of music.
Aker is a protector of people from evil spirits.
Amon is the patron of the sun.
Apis is the god of fertility.
Bennu is a symbol of eternal life.
Var is a symbol of sky and light.
Horus is the god of the rising sun.
Montu is the god of war.
Nun is the progenitor of all gods.
Onuris is the god of war and hunting.
Osiris is the god of rebirth.
Ra is the supreme god.
Seb is the patron of the earth and fertility.
The scarab is a sacred beetle, a popular symbol of Egyptian culture.
The Sphinx is a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man.
Thoth is a symbol of wisdom.
Phoenix is a mythical bird that rose from the ashes.
Shu is the god of air.
Shadu is the patron saint of travelers and wanderers.
Yah is the god of the moon.

An Egyptian nickname for a male kitten can be chosen from the following names, but you should definitely pay attention to their meaning:

Abasi is serious.
Adjo is a treasure.
Akil is smart.
Amun - hidden.
Badru - born on a full moon.
Bomani is a fighter.
Jahi – honored.
Jumoke is everyone's favorite.
Donkor – modest.
Yabi is weak.
Kenty is a leader.
Kuaashi - born on Sunday.
Mhotep - peace.
Mshey is a traveler.
Nomti – strong.
Ozaz - beloved by God.
Oi - glory.
Okpara is the first born.
Otta – third born.
Ra is the sun.
Rashidi - wise.
Runichera is a destroyer.
Seth is bright.
Tabit is a tough guy.
Ubaid is a devotee.
Hadji - born during a pilgrimage.
Shenti – fluffy.
Yafeu – brave.
Yahya - bestowed by heaven.

Nicknames for girls cats

Some owners prefer to call their female cats Egyptian names in honor of the queens of this ancient state:

Aat, Arsinoe;
Bathires, Benerib, Berenice, Betrest;
Capes, Cleopatra;
Merneith;
Nebtu, Neith, Nefertari, Nefertiti, Nefrusebek, Nitocrida, Nitocris;
Satia;
Takhat, Tausert, Tia, Tyti;
Hatshepsut, Khensa, Khenut, Khenkhenet;
Eurydice.

Names for male cats

An Egyptian name for a cat can be chosen in honor of the pharaohs of various dynasties:

Adjib, Amenemhet, Amenmes, Amenhotep, Amirteus, Achoris;
Jer, Djehuti, Jozer, Dudimos;
Kamos;
Menkaura, Menkauhor, Mikerin;
Neferite;
Osorkon;
Ptolemy;
Ramses, Rahotep;
Saptah, Sakhathor, Sakhur, Sebek, Senusret, Seti, Siamon;
Takelot, Tutankhamun, Thutmose;
Waji, Unis;
Pharaoh;
Khaba, Khendzher, Cheops, Khufu;
Shoshenq;
Akhenaten;
Ahmose.

Egyptian and Greek names for cats and cats sound very unusual and at the same time are filled with a special meaning. A correctly chosen nickname will help the owners show their unusual taste and emphasize the individuality of the pet.

True, first of all you need to think about how it is easy to remember, and how the cat likes its sound.

Figures and symbols of cats in ancient epics

In all ancient legends, the cat is identified with a mystical creature. Not only in Egypt, cats were deified and considered sacred.

In China, the goddess Li Shuo was depicted in the form of this animal. She was asked for fertility.

In Japan, the strongest talisman is considered to be a figurine of a cat with a raised paw. The state believes that these animals protect human life. This statement is associated with the legend of the emperor passing by the temple. At that moment the animal raised its paw, as if inviting the master to come inside. The emperor entered the temple, and lightning struck the place where he stood. So, the animal saved the sovereign. The Japanese still give each other cat figurines as a sign of wishes for long life.

A symbol of longevity and prosperity in Japan is the figure of a cat with a raised paw.

But in Greece and Rome, felines were the personification of evil. Cats accompanied dark, evil deities, in particular the goddess Hecate.

In Europe, at first, these affectionate pets also symbolized goodness. Everything changed during the Middle Ages. Perhaps the role here was played by the increased influence of Christianity. The church considered the worship of cats to be paganism and treated them negatively. It was believed that the soul of witches inhabited the body of the animal and thus came to people to bring harm. During this period, many cats were exterminated in vain. Representatives of black and white colors were especially affected.

What does a cat figurine symbolize in the house?

Cats were considered sacred in ancient Egypt. It was there that animal figures began to be placed in the house. The tradition has survived to this day. Figurines of kittens and cats of different colors can be seen in many homes. It is believed that they bring peace, tranquility, and protect against the evil eye.

Paw position and attributes are important:

A cat with a raised paw is a symbol of longevity and health.
Kittens with their mother are a symbol of procreation, motherhood, and offspring.
A black, graceful cat is a sign of femininity and wisdom. In addition, it is believed that such a figurine protects against the evil eye.
If the figurine depicts an animal with its tail held high, then it personifies optimism and prophesies the successful resolution of all matters.
A composition consisting of two or more purrs symbolizes fidelity and friendship.

A composition of several cats is a symbol of friendship

Egyptian nicknames for cats in honor of pharaohs of different dynasties:

Agiba;
Amenemheta;
Jer
Djehuti;
Djoser;
Menkaura
Mankauhor;
Ramses;
Sebek;
Tutankhamun;
Thutmose;
Unisa
Khufu;
Akhenaten;
Ahmose

The Egyptian name is ideal for cat breeds:

Abyssinian
Bengal
Sphinx
Scottish

Where to put a cat figurine

Everyone is familiar with cat habits. These restless sneaks tend to climb much higher in order to observe those around them. They choose their owner themselves and are distinguished by their rebellious character and pride.

Therefore, if a cat figurine is chosen as a talisman, place it higher. So, she will look around the territory from above and protect the owner.

From above, it will be easier for the talisman to discern an evil person and prevent the effects of evil spells.

From above, the amulet will be clearly visible to all ill-wishers

The top shelves of racks and cabinets are suitable for this. If you purchased a magnet, attach it to the refrigerator door at the highest place.

Place the figurine next to your work desk or in the kitchen where the whole family gathers for a meal. But do not hide the figurine behind other, larger figures. Cats don't like neighbors.

Do not move the figurine into a secluded place - otherwise the cat will be offended and will not tolerate neglect.

Let her always be in your field of vision and never let her out of sight of her owner. Then the household will enjoy prosperity in all endeavors.

Names of rulers

Another option to choose an unusual nickname for your pet is to look at the names of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs:

Ahmose;
Jer;
Menkaura;
Ajeeb;
Sebek;
Joser;
Amenemhet;
Thutmose;
Djehuti;
Unis;
Henger;
Hub;
Den;
Waji;
Akhenaten.

Cat Jer:

Namesake of Pharaoh Thutmose:

Caring for the talisman

Remember that felines value care. Take care of the figurine, wipe off dust. It is recommended to tell your cat about your worries and sorrows; she will help you cope with adversity.

You can’t forget about the amulet. If you are planning a long trip, ask Murka to protect you and help you on the road and with your business. Explain why you are leaving and ask for forgiveness that you cannot take her with you.

Some people take a figurine with them. You shouldn't do this. Cats do not tolerate changes in environment well. Home is dear to them. Therefore, you should not leave your home without a talisman. Rest assured, the talisman will become reliable protection.