THE CAT IN ANCIENT EGYPT

by Jaromir Malek

The Cat, held as a sacred animal in Egypt. This Book describes origins, symbolic meaning, and history of the cat in Ancient Egypt.

Genres: History, Egypt, Nonfiction, Cats, Animals, Egyptology, Archaeology

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Jaromir Málek is an Egyptologist, formerly archivist of the Griffith Institute of Sackler Library in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford, and editor of Topographical Bibliography, 1968–2011.

Reviews

[Iset · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a cat lover and an Egyptologist, there could not be a more perfect book combining both interests than this one. One of the most charming aspects of learning the ancient Egyptian language is discovering that their words for animals were frequently onomatopoeic. The word for a dog, for example, was “iwiw”, instantly conjuring up a mental image of a small, yapping pup. The word for cat was, as one might expect, “miu”.

Originally domesticated as part of a very functional, working relationship with humans, cats initially served a valued role in protecting grain stores from mice and rats, and hunting some of the Nile valley’s more dangerous snakes that might come into settlement areas; vipers and cobras. Their usefulness and protective role slowly evolved into a closer relationship, although this did not happen overnight. It would seem that during the Old Kingdom cats were firmly in the category of working animals, and notably absent from the pantheon of gods (except in the form of their larger cousins, lions, leopards, and cheetahs). A shift seems to have taken place starting in the Middle Kingdom. The cat began to be appreciated in a religious capacity, as a protector from evil, and as a fertility symbol (think of how quickly they can breed and the size of their litters), and was welcomed into the home as a beloved pet. The height of their religious connection wasn’t until the Late Period and Graeco-Roman era, but even in the New Kingdom, they were the pets of royalty and, judging by the funerary provisions made for one prince’s ‘Sweetie’, clearly much-loved.

Quite possibly my favourite piece of art from all of ancient Egyptian history is the fowling in the marshes scene from the tomb chapel of Nebamun. Nebamun, a scribe and minor official, is shown taking to the waters on a reed skiff with his wife and daughter, for a recreational family outing, hunting waterfowl. Much of ancient Egyptian art is stiffly formal, and the central figure of Nebamun is no different, but the scene around him is remarkably naturalistic, freezing in time the moment where a cloud of birds and butterflies burst forth from a papyrus stand as Nebamun prepares to cast his throwing stick. The detail of the plumage shows the artist was undoubtedly familiar with Nile fauna, and amidst this naturalistic scene is the family’s pet cat, mid-leap, bringing down prey.

The above-mentioned scene is quite famous, but this book, which is lavishly illustrated, shows many other delightful depictions of cats, many familiar to the cat lover. In one couple’s tomb a scene shows a mother cat sat under the wife’s chair, whilst a tiny kitten sits on the husband’s lap and reaches out a paw towards him. Another cat in a different scene, tied by a leash to the chair leg, strains desperately towards a nearby bowl of meat that is just out of reach. Perhaps most amusing was the section where the book examines less formal depictions of cats – the scribblings of artists during their breaks, never intended for official display. These depict fantasy scenes that are most likely intended to be satirical in nature. One such bold scene shows mice besieging a fort defended by cats, the infantry wielding the equipment of Egyptian soldiers, and the ‘king’ mouse grasping a bow at full draw, in a chariot pulled by dogs. The scene is so pointedly similar to the scenes of Egyptian pharaohs in battle, depicted on temples, that it is hard not to believe that a deeply tongue-in-cheek commentary is being made about the grandiosity of the elite. But perhaps the most touching artefact, for me, was the stela in which a female cat, stung by a scorpion, begs the sun-god to help ‘his daughter’; the sun-god replies that he will use his powers to neutralise the poison and save her. Who had this stela created, I wonder? An ancient Egyptian cat lover whose feline companion suffered such a mishap and survived?

Published in 1993, this is still, as far as I’m aware, the only book on the subject, although it holds up very well; the writing is still accessible and professional, and its in-depth examination is high quality work. My only suggestion is that perhaps it is time for a new edition, to include new discoveries.

10 out of 10

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

My cats made me read this book to remind me of their superior status in ancient Egypt. It is amazing to see how often the cat appears in Egyptian art. This book is lavishly illustrated in color and black and white. Excuse me, I need to make an offering to Bast....

[Luke Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd been intrigued by this book when I first saw it ages ago in a gift shop at the British Museum (@britishmuseum), but after the pestilence descended, the museum closed and I wasn't able to get a copy! 😾 Fortunately, things are starting to reopen, so I picked up a copy for my birthday and it's proven to be a very interesting read...

Jaromir Malek covers several thousand years of history, detailing the evolution of the relationship between humans and cats, from a practical symbiotic partnership (humans enticing cats into their settlements, offering food and safe shelter in exchange for dealing with vermin and dangerous pests like snakes and scorpions), to a relationship more akin to that we have today, with the cat as a house pet and companion, to the instantly recognisable image of the cat worshipped as the manifestation of several gods... His book is full of archaeological and anecdotal evidence about the transition in how humans viewed cats, from the surprising (like the lynching of a Roman delegate for accidentally killing a cat) to the heartwarming (like the story the Prophet Mohammad cut the sleeve off one of his robes to avoid disturbing a cat that had fallen asleep on it)...

It's not for everyone (I found a couple of chapters particularly hard wearing, or touching on subject matter that didn't really appeal), but as an enthusiast in archaeology and animals, I found it very interesting, I learned quite a bit more than I did, and since I now live in a house with 4 cats, it was quite amusing to see the parallels between how people viewed cats then and now and realise not a lot has changed! 🤣🤣🐱🐱

If you're a cat lover or have an interest in archaeology and/or Egyptology, definitely consider giving this a look! 🤔🐈

[Siri Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough and insightful book on the role that cats, real or imagined, played in Ancient Egyptian society and culture, from pre-dynastic times through to the end of the pharaonic period. The book details the rise of cat cults, goddesses associated with cats and felines, the role of cats as pest controls and pets in Egyptian society, the depictions of cats and felines in Egyptian art, and the eventual decline of the cat with the introduction of Christian and Islamic religious sentiments. The book is richly illustrated and delivers a surprising amount of depth to the research it presents. Highly recommended for those with an interest in Ancient Egyptian culture - or just anyone who loves cats.

[Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good overview of the role of cats in ancient Egyptian religion and culture.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Cat in Ancient Egypt is an interesting book, allowing us a look into the history of cats in Egypt and rather the civilized world. Many questions remain unanswered, including when exactly cats were domesticated there, and it seems it would have been a bit helpful had the Ancient Egyptians been more specific regarding their cat art and mentions (and only one name for cat when dogs had numerous? Come on!). Overall I liked but didn't overly enjoy the work by Malek, I felt it was a bit heavy handed and needed a bit more focus.

I was appalled to learn that in the late 19th century approximately 180,000 cat mummies were sent to England and turned into fertilizer. FERTILIZER! WTF! I doubt people would be okaying such ventures with human bodies. *sigh*

I did enjoy the satirical artwork shown and discussed in the book as well as the "cheap" drawings that could have been done by anyone. Imagine a random scribbling of yours being discovered thousands of years from now...pretty cool.

[Suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most interesting aspects for me in ancient Egypt have always been mummies and mummification (a document I once saw where they mummified a present-day human was lovely, but also slightly revolting), so it wasn't a surprise the particular chapter concerning that was my favourite. Although it was pretty short, so I was left wondering whether there might be even more information available on cat mummies and their burial. Still, I'd recommend this for both cat and history lovers. The formation of Egyptian society is briefly recounted at the beginning. To get a proper context of the importance of cats in religion and art, their basics are also useful for those not familiar with these concepts in Egyptian style.

[stephanie suh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started in misty ancient Egypt when suddenly from the end of the horizon yonder, a ferociously beautiful wild cat appeared, followed a farmer coming to drink water from the sacred river known as Hapy, and stayed there. It was about 1,500 years later than a dog coming to live with a human hunter. Abounded with various fauna and flora benign to the human inhabitants, the jungle cats and African cats thrived and became familiar animals to the Egyptians, who began to use the cats to drive off pesky mice poisonous snakes threatening their lives and crops. Naturally, wild cats gradually learned to adapt their wild instinct to their new protective human environs. Jaromir Malek, in his The Cat in Ancient Egypt, tells all about how cats became naturally harmonious with humans, which played a significant role in the anthropological and social aspects of splendid ancient Egyptian civilization.

The frequency of cats’ representations in ancient Egyptian art is a creditable source to understand cats’ familiarity and recognition as pets in the overall culture and society. The images of cats first sporadically appeared in the tombs of pharaohs built during the Old Kingdom period (2647 -2124 B.C) and became widespread mural art features by the New Kingdom (1549-1069 B.C.), which is also called the renaissance of the pyramids. Maybe it was because of the mysterious aura surrounding the inscrutable demureness of a cat, or it was the otherwordly aloofness wrapt in ethereal agility. Cats became popular hieroglyphic and effigial motifs for artists and priests alike in cultural and religious contexts decorating chambers within sacred tombs and temples. Also, cats were the aesthetic muse for women’s high fashion, used as motifs for the jewelry of queens and women of high society.

What evolved from a quid pro quo relationship between man and beast for the survival of the species found its way to the high seat in the eternal world. The familiarity and recognition of cats’ usefulness blessed with physical charm elevated the beastly origin into a divine status in the statuesque form of goddess Bastet, the sister of the Sun god Ra, representing female sexuality and fertility, which reflected the specific characteristics of the animal. The Sun god himself was also called the Great Tomcat because the god meowed during what he was doing. So much so that the ancient Persians used to equip the shields with live cats at war with the Egyptians, who dared not to harm their sacred animals.

On the other hand, cats were not altogether distant from the everyday lives of the ancient Egyptians. The Greek historian Herodotus further corroborated that the Egyptians shaved their eyebrows when their cats died as a sign of mourning. The more cats became domesticated, the more multiferous their features became. Artists started using cats as a caricature of specific human characteristics illustration of fables with a moral content, representing the absurdities of reality in a humorously wise way. Such artistic trend was most conspicuous during the Ptolomy period when Egypt was under the Hellenistic influence to resist foreign cultural force. Cats were symbolized as the animal inherently Egyptian to the land of pharaohs.

Beautifully written with sentences that conjure up the images of ancient Egyptian cats, Malek’s The Cat in Ancient Egypt serves its purpose of educating and entertaining the curious reader who wants to know more about his or her beloved feline creature at home. That doesn’t mean that this book is reserved only for cat owners or lovers. This book has refreshingly excellent archeological and anthropological knowledge about human civilization, impacting animal life. The affection is the elder sister of the understanding. I personally selected this book to read because I wanted to know more about my cat. Likewise, this book is for readers who want to know more about Nature and People’s history.

[Lain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A scholarly/academic work that tries to identify when the cat was domesticated, and when it attained religious significance in ancient egypt. The argumentation is tied strongly to archaeological methods, evidence is presented in the form of fossilized remains of cats, paintings and drawings of cats (or the lack thereof) in tombs from various dynasties, the form of these depictions, the advent of cat hieroglyphics, cat statues, and the mention of cats in egyptian literature and funerary rites, and even human naming conventions. Each tomb painting/statue/hieroglyphic/piece of literature is described in detail and different interpretations are discussed in an attempt to establish how the role of the cat in egyptian society changed over time.

The cat did not initially have any religious significance in Egypt, but over time the cat assimilated and displaced older gods and goddesses, reaching the height of its influence during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. By eating rodents and protecting grain stores, the cat became associated with bountiful harvests and the god of Hathor. By killing snakes it became a protector of tombs and the underworld. The cat also displaced the lion goddess Bast, and established a contrasting relationship with Sekhmet, another lion goddess. All of these gods had strong ties to the sungod Ra, which catapulted the cat to the loftiest peaks of the egyptian pantheon. Its rise was in many ways due to the high esteem the cat had in the eyes of the peasant population, as opposed to the inaccessible doctrine of temples and priests.

While I appreciate the scholarly approach, I do think you have to be an egyptologist to really appreciate the work, it does read somewhat like a dissertation. 5 stars for content, 2-3 for readability/enjoyment.

[JLJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Occasionally, among the multi-coloured cats of modern Egypt, one can still see an animal that seems to revert to its ancient ancestry. I remember watching such a one climbing the Great Pyramid of King Khufu at Giza - an animal with superb yellow and cream fur, brindled with fine lines of silver grey. It is strictly forbidden to climb the pyramids, but this prohibition can hardly be applied to cats, and the magnificent creature was making its way upwards, safe from all human interference, its coat blending perfectly with the rugged texture of the ancient stones.

This book, is a comprehensive study of the cat, as a wild animal, then a domesticated animal and finally as a revered animal, in Ancient Egypt. The author traces this evolution of the relationship between the Egyptians and cats by examining wall paintings, reliefs and other artefacts, who are gorgeous to look at.

It is extremely academically sound. The author rarely hazards guesses in their interpretations of these works of art. They provide historical context and descriptions.

It is perhaps for that reason that it makes for somewhat dry reading, since it turns out that very little is known with certainty about that period of time and our feline friends' place in it.

[Bébhinn Ní Riain · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cat in Ancient Egypt is a brief overview of how the Ancient Egyptians perceived cats and their role in Ancient Egyptian society. Malek's writing style is interesting, accessible and he does an excellent job in surveying the history of cats. Malek begins by discussing the first recorded burial of a cat in a grave and moves forward to the establishment of the temple of Bast in Bubastis and ends with the Coptic and Islamic periods. Overall I really enjoyed this book as a cat lover and an Egypt fanatic. It was a very easy read, given at how short the book is and Malek's charming writing style. My only quibble is that Malek touched very little on Sekhmet. Another peeve was the insistence of calling Bast, Bastet(which was done in the later periods and one of the leading theories maintains that scribes added an extra "t" as people were leaving the original "t" out and calling Bast "Bas"). Finally I would have loved more details surrounding the cat mummies.

All in all I would recommend this book. It was enjoyable from start to finish and a very quick read.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a Christmas gift from my son and DIL's honeymoon in the United Kingdom - from the British Museum! I enjoyed the photographs of statues, carvings, and drawings, as well as the text describing the development over time of cats in Egyptian art. Historical context including an approximate timeline of the "domestication" of cats was included. My main complaint about the book is that although each of the photographs was numbered, they were not referenced by number in the text, leaving the reader to try and figure out whether the object being described in the text was actually pictured (many more items were described than pictured). Other than that, a good read for cat lovers and those who are interested in Egyptian history.

[Deb Montague · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry accumulation of knowledge about cats in ancient Egypt. We have embraced the view of Bastet; the usually black cat with gold rings in her ears, probably wearing a necklace on which is an amulet. But this is a late development, according to the author, and doesn't show up until two-thirds of the way through the book. This is a scholars tome and, for the average reader, doesn't have much to recommend it. The knowledge contained is extensive but it's not presented in a way to spark excitement at what one is reading unless one is a scholar of ancient Egypt and needs a text for reference. I do wonder if there are other books out there which cover this topic.

[Laurence Hidalgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book in that much of the text has to do with ancient Egyptian religion and how the cat and other animals fit into those beliefs. There are quite a few illustrations and photos of cat figures and statuary, which I really enjoyed. If you are a cat fancier, you'll probably like this book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Cat in Ancient Egypt as part of research for a book I am writing and I found it extremely helpful to gain a deeper understanding of how Ancient Egyptians throughout their history viewed cats beyond ‘they worshiped them like gods’ (not necessarily true!). Clear and engaging with excellent photos. Really enjoyed it.

[RickyTicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

pure pleasure to read. the author is a very intelligent, hardworking, careful to details and nice person. he's gone through an enormous amount of work to write the book as it is: factualy presice, readable and respecting all living creatures. one love. highly recommend!

[Arto Mutka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book about cats from the British Museum... have picked up a couple of times but it is so dense and detailed I just can not get into it!

I love cats and love Egypt that's why I bought this but I am afraid this is just not an easy read!

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and thought provoking. All cat lovers will like. Best part, some great Egyptian cat names for kitties.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

To quote Spock, "Fascinating."

[Katka Olajcová · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veľmi zaujímavé čítanie, pri ktorom sa dozvieme veľa informácii nielen o mačkách, ale aj o iných zvieratách, ktoré sa okolo starých Egypťanov motali.

[Denisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got about 3/4 of the way through. Started as very interesting but it got boring after a while. Still learned some stuff about Ancient Egypt in general, so that's good.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book on the role of the cat in Ancient Egypt. It covers wild and domestic cats, as well as the role of cats in religion and stories before concluding with a discussion of cat mummies. I gained new appreciation of the cat within pharonic Egypt and the many illustrations that warmed my cat loving heart. Recommended for cat lovers and those interested in Ancient Egypt.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed that book from the library for the pictures and ended learning quite a few interesting things. Like what you ask? Tomb artists would sometime subtly mock the various pharaohs whose tomb they were decorating... Shhhh...
The images alone cover all aspect of the feline life in Egypt visually. No reading require.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reading for cat lovers and history buffs in regards to the cat in Ancient Egypt. Lots of great photographs of ancient Egyptian art and cat mummies throughout.