When Cats Were Gods | Bast | Sekhmet | Maahes | Mafdet

When Cats Were Gods

In ancient Egypt the divide between animals and humans was not as vast as compared to present day society. To the mind of the ancient Egyptian animals worshipped the creator god (Ptah) in their own ways and were as much a part of him as humans. The reverence animals were given would still not be considered as worship. They were seen as embodiments, or aspects of a certain god. Usually one specific animal was chosen to act as a representative, on earth, for its god - based on external characteristics. The Apis bull was chosen to represent Ptah because of its markings in the shape of a crescent moon, and a pure black cat was often associated with Bast.

From the beginning of Egyptian history wild cats, such as cheetahs and lions had been kept as pets, for protection, and for prestige, as well as their association with deities. It took awhile for the cats to allow themselves to be domesticated into the familiar housecat.

The most likely ancestor to the common housecat would be the African Wild cat (Felis silvestris libyca). Cats were encouraged to take up home next to grain silos so as to offer protection from mice and rats. They were likely further domesticated to offer protection against poisonous snakes.

From about 1450 BC onward cats began to be portrayed in Theban tombs in a domestic context. The name Miu, or Mitt (f), meaning she who mews, was given to cats both wild and tame.

Although the cat eventually attained a high standing in popular Egyptian religion, surpassing most other gods, they were never truly elevated to an ‘official’ status. Since the cat was never a full number of the divine community they were never painted or carved into the walls of Egyptian temples.

It was not long before the cat became associated with Ra, the sun-god. In several illustrations Ra is seen manifesting himself as Miuty (the great tomcat) slicing off the head of Apep - his serpent enemy - in the underworld. It is thought that the cats association with the sun-god stemmed from the fact that the animal’s pupils changed according to the sun’s position in the sky.

The popularity of the cat as a religious figure was brought to its height during the Polemic period. In the mid 5th century Herodotus (a Greek historian) visited Egypt and kept note of his experiences. According to him anyone who killed a sacred animal intentionally was put to death. Accidental killings were only punished in a manner decided by the priests.

The words of Herodotus are backed up through the events witnessed by Diodorus - another Greek historian. He had seen an angry and unstoppable mob lynch a member of Roman delegation who had accidentally killed a cat.

According to Herodotus, the inhabitants of a house would shave their eyebrows in order to mourn the death of a cherished pet. Dead cats, he recorded, were embalmed and buried in the city of Bubastis - close to the temple of Bast.

It wasn’t until about 1350 BC that domesticated cats began to be mummified. Prince Djehutymose commissioned a stone coffin with images and hieroglyphic texts for his pet cat Tamyt. Towards the end of the late period large animal cemeteries became more and more common.

Cat bodies were embalmed by first removing the insides and replacing them with packing material (optional). The legs were then stretched and the whole body was treated with resin before being bound up in natron (salt) soaked lined strips. In the dry hot air the animal quickly dehydrated and was brought into a perfectly preserved state.

Facial features were often painted upon the bandaged face of the mummy. Occasionally a bronze burial mask was placed over the cat’s face. Some cats were buried in coffins of wood carved into the shape of the animal. Others were buried in large brick-lined graves.

In later days many of the mummified cats had suffered an early death at the hands of man. This was proven by CT scans showing a dislocation of the cervical vertebrae - a broken neck. Perhaps this was done to cull the temple catteries, or perhaps to meet the growing demand of pilgrims wishing to sponsor the mummification and burial of a cat as an expression of their piety.

Although cats may have suffered at the end of Their time spent as a god, the misplaced love they received by the diminishing ancient Egyptian civilization did little to prepare them for their long persecution during the dark ages. Nevertheless, as those who keep cats know, they have not forgotten they were once honoured as gods on earth.

Malek, Jaromir (2006). The Cat in Ancient Egypt. London: British Museum Press. ISBN 978-0714119700.