Introduction

     DID YOU KNOW CATS WERE WORSHIPED!?!?

     Well, if you didn’t, then come read my website to learn why Ancient Egyptian people worshiped cats and felines.

     Learn how and why cats are worshiped in many ways. Make sure to stick around because this website is going to be fantastic and take you back in time to Ancient Egypt.

Cats in Egypt

     Cats began living with people in Egypt about 4,000 to 6,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians were farmers who grew grain.

     The extra grain they stored to live on would get eaten and destroyed by rats, and the cats would kill the rats and pests that got in the grain.

Protectors

     Cats protected the food by hunting rats and mice, so cats were honored and worshiped by Ancient Egyptians. Cats also protected women and children by killing poisonous snakes that came into people's homes.

Importance of Cats

      Cats killed venomous snakes, rodents, and birds that killed or harmed crops. Cats served and protected the Pharaoh during the Dynasty Age in Ancient Egypt. 

Sculptures and Paintings

     We know cats in Ancient Egypt were worshiped because they are seen in sculptures and paintings from 4,000 years ago. The pictures show cats helping humans hunt and being fed under tables.

    The cat's function to protect humans is told in the "Book of the Dead", where cats are shown representing Ra and the sun giving life and land on Earth. Ra is the Ancient Egyptian sun god.

Treatment of Cats

     Some families in Ancient Egypt dressed cats in wealthy jewels and fed them expensive treats that only rich people could only afford. Feeding and dressing cats was a way to care for and honor these sacred animals.

     People also thought that cats had magical powers that brought good luck to those who cared for them.

Mummies

     In 1901, mummies were found near Faiyum, an ancient city in Egypt. There were crocodile and cat mummies found in tombs. Cats were often mummified and buried with their families, showing how important and sacred they were in Ancient Egypt.

     When a cat died, the Ancient Egyptians would mummify the animal to show a sign of favor to the gods and goddesses in Egypt.

How Egyptians Mourn Cats

     In addition to being mummified and buried by its owner, a cat's family would go into mourning after a cat died. The family would shave off their eyebrows and stay in mourning until their eyebrows on their face grew back!

Bastet

     Bastet is a goddess from Ancient Egypt that is usually shown with the body of a woman and the head of a lioness or cat. Bastet is honored for protecting the home, family, and children.

     Goddesses like Bastet that are pictured with kittens show the wishes of health for the people so they can have many children. Also, it shows that they can have life and protection.

     People from Ancient Egypt believed Bastet would protect their home from evil spirits and diseases, and protect women when giving birth to babies.

Author's Note

     "What do you mean cats had to be worshiped!!!"

     That was my reaction when I first discovered that cats in Ancient Egypt were worshiped and even turned into mummies!

     Why would they even do that? Now I know.

     I hope you enjoyed my website and learned a lot about how and why cats in Ancient Egypt were worshiped.