Perhaps, not a single animal about humanity has come up with as many legends, proverbs and signs, as much about a cat. She is considered a guide to the other world and knows how to see ghosts and ghosts. Cats relieve headaches, calm nerves and predict earthquakes. And in many countries they are considered sacred animals.
In Europe, in the Middle Ages, cats were highly regarded. They were in almost every home. Large and half-wild animals hunted hordes of mice and rats and guarded the harvest from spoilage. Cats were revered and loved. But during the witch hunt, the situation changed. Cats began to be burned at the stake and for a long time was considered accomplices of the devilish forces.
In ancient Egypt, there were many sacred animals - crocodiles, bulls, lions. One of the most revered animals was the cat. Numerous deities of Egypt often took the form of this animal. The sun god Ra sometimes appeared in the form of a red cat, and the god of Storm and Bad Weather Mahes was portrayed in the form of a reed cat. But the most recognizable was the image of the goddess of fertility, motherhood and joy - Bastet. Usually she was portrayed as a woman with a cat's head.
It was believed that amulets with the image of a cat contribute to fertility and success in love. In addition, the cat was revered as the keeper of the world order on earth and harmony.
Almost every Egyptian had a cat in the house. She was looked after, tasty fed and never offended. In rich families, the cat's body was embalmed after death and buried in special cemeteries; stuffed mice and toys were put in the coffin.
Scientists are inclined to think that the cult of this animal arose because the cat is very prolific and perfectly cares for its offspring. Her ability to suddenly and silently disappear and appear, her gracefulness and her nocturnal lifestyle have fostered respect and respect.
In the kingdom of Siam, cats were on a special account. It was there that the famous Siamese cat appeared. She was held in royal palaces and was of cult significance in Thailand. The inhabitants of the kingdom believed that in the body of a Siamese cat the soul of a dying king finds a temporary refuge, and after the death of the monarch, the cat escorts him to the afterlife. Therefore, the cat was treated as a sacred animal.
Cats in the palace were carefully looked after as members of the royal family. They ate from dishes made of precious metals, and slept on expensive silk fabrics. Today in Thailand there is no such cult of the cat, but it still remains a favorite animal among the inhabitants of this state. For cats, they will always find food and a place to sleep.
