Didn't egyptians worship felines? Why were they so special; what powers did they have? How big were they?

Question

Were they bigger than domestic house cats nowadays or just as big as they are now. Do they still worship cats in Egypt?

Answer 1

Cats were common family pets in Ancient Egypt. Egyptians were one of the few cultures to keep animals in their houses in that era. Lions (part of the cat family) were only for royalty. Egyptians had a goddess named Bastet (a war goddess who had a cat head). Her sacred animal was a cat (of course).

It's believed that, contrary from how dogs are view now as "man's best friend", cats befriended Egyptians first. Dogs were used more for hunting. Cats, kept in the home, could keep pests(mice & such) from the food supply- thus were closer to humans.

As for powers: Some think they were admired so much was because they were mysterious. XD There's even a myth, my friend said, that a war was won with cats. Which I find hard to believe unless they were lions.

I'm not sure about present day, but I don't believe cats are as highly regarded.

  

Answer 2

Animal worship in ancient Egypt is part of the culture of daily life of Egyptians. Animals of every kind were respected and revered, as they were in close contact with deities and gods that the average Egyptian could not reach.

The cat in ancient Egypt, or miw (to see), was a sacred and respected beast. These small companions fascinated the Egyptians, and were venerated by all. It was in Egypt that the cat was first domesticated 4,000 years ago and where they were held in the most admiration and respect. There is evidence of wild felines around the banks of Egypt, but it was not until around 2000 BCE that the fully domesticated cat was brought into the houses of Egyptians.

The first domesticated Egyptian cats in Egypt were more than likely used for warding off the common asp and other snakes, and the typical chasers of rodents. Slowly though, the cat became more to the Egyptians than just a normal animal, the cat became a god.

During the New Kingdom (1540 to 1069 BC), there were many tomb scenes that started showing cats as part of everyday life. The ancient Egyptians took their cats on hunting excursions instead of dogs, The most popular excursions being the marshes where cats may have been trained to retrieve fowl and fish. Another very common scene in tomb paintings was the picturing of a cat seated underneath a woman's chair. Children had become known in their family as Mit or Miut, showing great affection not only for the child but for the cat as well. Statues of cats were placed outside the house to protect the inhabitants and to ward off evil spirits. This showed scientists that the cat had become an integral part of the ancient Egyptian family life.

Mafdet was the first Egyptian feline deity, sometimes depicted as a lynx, but the most famous cat goddesses in the world, first revered by the ancient Egyptians were Bastet (also known as Bast, Pasch, Ubasti) and the lion-headed Sekhmet.

The average size is the same as now.

Answer 3

that's not quite it, they worshipped a GOD that just so happens to take the form of a feline so by worshipping the cats they are paying homage to the god.

Answer 4

They don't worship them anymore, but they pretty much used to.  Cats were sacred to the god Ra and goddess Bast-Ra, and harming one was usually punishable by death---except for Bastet-Ra's priestesses, who might sacrifice one or two every year to live forever with their goddess. The cats were about the same size as they are now, too, although maybe slightly on the large side of normal.

When a cat died, its 'family' would shave off their eyebrows to show their grief.  The cats were said to have the ability to see spirits, so they were closely connected to the divine and the afterlife.  Some modern pagans maintain the belief that cats are sacred and magical animals.

Answer 5

yes, and no.

cats were revered, because they were so vitile to the old Egyptian economy.  Egypt produced far more grain than any other country /region, going back to Biblical times at lease.   It was the basis of much of the countries wealth.   and all that grain had to be stored - sometimes for years.

Mice could and would eat a huge percentage of stored grain.

Either cats came on their own, ( to capture and eat the mice) or they were brought in to kill the mice - protecting the grain.

their cats were pretty much the size of our house cats.

only special power was catching mice, which keep Egypt rich.

I have no idea if they are worshiped today.

Answer 6

They are about the same size,the cat was the goddess bastet she was the daughter of the creator god atum,she was originally portrayed as a lion she had magical powers of protection and came firstly from bubastis in the east delta  from the old kingdom onwards, she was also worshiped in memphis and was associated with sakhmet,and no she is not worshiped any more the egyptians are muslims.

Answer 7

The ancient Egyptians had several gods.  Those like a cat include:

Bast, goddess, protector of the pharaoh and a solar deity where the sun could be seen shining in her eyes at night, a lioness, house cat, cat-bodied or cat-headed woman, also known as Bastet when superseded by Sekhmet

Mafdet - she who runs swiftly - early deification of legal justice (execution) as a cheetah, ruling at judgment hall in Duat where enemies of the pharaoh were decapitated with Mafdet's claw; alternately, a cat, a mongoose, or a leopard protecting against vermin, snakes, and scorpions; the bed upon which royal mummies were placed in murals

Menhit - goddess of war - depicted as a lioness-goddess and therefore becoming associated with Sekhmet

As well as house cats there were lions, panthers and leopards in Egypt.

Answer 8

Uh, are you serious?

...

Egypt is in Africa. There was lots of cats of different sizes.

...

And that first dude doesn't know what's up.

It was Bast.