The number of domestic animals in Egypt is very large. In fact, it would be even larger if it were not for certain unusual events, especially those involving cats. Cats were extremely important in Egyptian society and were treated with great respect. However, their natural behavior sometimes led to surprising and tragic outcomes.
Female cats, after giving birth to kittens, often avoid the company of male cats. The males, wanting to regain their attention, are said to use a strange and cruel method. They seize the kittens, carry them away, and kill them, though they do not eat them afterward. When the female cats lose their young, they grieve and seek companionship again, returning to the males. Because cats are very attached to their offspring, this behavior affects their numbers Sightseeing Turkey.
Cats and Fire: A Strange Behavior
Whenever a fire breaks out in Egypt, a very strange and troubling event takes place involving cats. The people do not immediately try to put out the fire. Instead, they stand at a distance and carefully watch the cats. These animals often slip past the people or leap over them and rush straight into the flames.
When this happens, the Egyptians are filled with deep sorrow. They believe the behavior of the cats is beyond human control and may be driven by instinct or sacred force. The death of a cat is considered a great loss, and the people mourn deeply.
Mourning Customs for Animals
The Egyptians follow strict customs when an animal dies. If a cat dies naturally inside a private home, all the members of that household shave their eyebrows as a sign of mourning. This act shows respect and grief for the sacred animal.
When a dog dies, the mourning is even more visible. The members of the household shave their entire heads and bodies. These practices demonstrate how seriously the Egyptians regard the lives of animals, especially those connected with religious beliefs Purity Rules in Egyptian Sacred Places.
Burial Practices for Sacred Animals
Cats that die are taken to the city of Bubastis. There, they are carefully embalmed, just like humans, and then buried in special sacred burial places. Bubastis is a major religious center connected with the worship of the cat goddess.
Dogs are buried in their own cities, also in sacred burial grounds. The same burial custom is followed for ichneumons, animals valued for controlling pests.
Other animals are buried in specific cities. Hawks and shrew-mice are taken to the city of Buto for burial, while ibises are transported to Hermopolis. Each animal is associated with a particular god or religious center, and this determines where it is buried.
Rare Animals and Simple Burials
Some animals are rare in Egypt and are treated differently. Bears are very uncommon, and wolves are only slightly larger than foxes. When these animals are found dead, they are buried wherever they are discovered. They are not transported to special cities, likely because they are not closely connected to major religious traditions.
Respect for Animal Life
These customs show how deeply the Egyptians respected animal life. Animals were not only part of daily life but also part of religion and identity. Through mourning, embalming, and burial rituals, the Egyptians honored animals in a way that was unique in the ancient world.
