In ancient Egypt, cats were deified as sacred beings.

Egyptians worshiped cats for over four thousand years.

Their spiritual prestige was embodied in the goddess Bastet, often depicted as a cat or a woman with a cat's head.

Bastet evolved from a war goddess into a guardian of the household and family.

Bastet, as a daughter of Ra, was associated with well-being, joy, love, fertility, and family warmth.

In Egyptian belief, cats warded off evil spirits and defended homes and families.

Bastet was believed to take the form of a black cat at night to drive away evil forces.

In Egyptian culture, cats symbolized strength, protection, power, fertility, and invincibility.

Egyptians valued cats for exterminating rodents and safeguarding grain stocks.

Cats' keen night vision earned them the nickname "sunny eye."

Egyptians mummified and buried cats with ritual care to ensure eternal life.

Archaeology at Saqqara has uncovered cat statues, mummies, and amulets tied to Bastet, as well as a mummification workshop.

At Berenice's pet cemetery, over 200 cat tombs were found with toys, pottery, and other animals.

Mummification for beloved animals involved removing organs, drying with natron, and wrapping in linens to preserve them for the afterlife.

Family cat owners would shave their eyebrows to mourn their pet's death, showing their deep attachment.

In ancient Egypt, cats were spiritually revered and cherished as protectors, family patrons, and companions.

In ancient Egypt, cats were deified as sacred beings.

Title:

Content: Expert felinologist exposed the popular myths about cats
March 1 is Cat Day in Russia.
The first day of March was chosen not by chance - because it is in this month that the cat hymns to spring and love sound loudest, straight-forward and demanding.
And let snow pour from the sky mixed with rain, let ice tiny under fluffy paws, let the gusts of the young spring and violent wind almost blow off the roof - mustachioed Lovelaces do not confuse the harsh scenery.
And free street robbers, and home "masics", who have escaped the famous surgical procedure, all the way to the world around the onset of spring madness.
Well, on the eve of Cat Day, we met with expert felinologist Maria Vershinina - she knows everything about these amazing animals.
– Maria, felinologist – profession or hobby?
- In general, felinology is a section of zoology that studies the anatomy and physiology of domestic cats, as well as their breeds, especially their selection, breeding and maintenance.
Judging by the amount of work invested and time spent, this is undoubtedly a profession.
Club leaders, experts who act as judges at exhibitions, should not only have extensive knowledge in the field of felinology, but also support them with relevant documents - licenses, certificates and other paperwork.
And for this it is necessary to undergo training, more often – abroad, which costs a lot of money.
But to live on the fees of the expert of the breed is impossible.
Paying for refereeing is just a nice bonus.
We all have professions that give the main income, so in the sense of money, felinology is a hobby, and expensive.
For example, I work in real estate.
Cats are for the soul.
Cats are credited with supernatural abilities, they often act as characters in various mystical stories.
Have you ever seen anything like that?
– Look, it is better to ask such questions to the participants of the “Battle of psychics ” – it is their cats who see ghosts, travel on parallel worlds and cure oncology.
I communicate with cats all my life, professionally - since 1988, when the first club of cat lovers "Kotofey" was created in our glorious city of Leningrad.
And with all confidence I can say - these are cute, charming, sometimes wayward and independent, sometimes naughty and naughty - but just pets.
And no mysticism.
I remember back in Soviet times in the journal "Science and Life" published a series of articles about the incredible abilities of ordinary domestic cats.
It was generally proposed to consider them agents of extraterrestrial civilization, sent to us from Sirius, on the simple grounds that the extremely wise ancient Egyptians deified them.
And in India, a cow is still considered sacred, but few people think of attributing it to the cosmos.
A lot of nonsense is written about cats - and they foresee death, and they keep the connection with the "subtle world", and the house is protected from any misfortune...
All right, in the dense Middle Ages such stories flourished – by the way, then cats, especially black ones, were not welcomed, considering them to be accomplices of Satan – so no, in our enlightened age all sorts of fables are composed.
In general, the desire of the cat owner to endow his pet with some superpowers is understandable, but practice shows that the domestic cat is an ordinary cute animal, more or less attached to the owner.
I had a friend who was convinced that her Marquis “saw ” some otherworldly entity that had settled in the house.
Indeed, we all often notice how sometimes cats freeze and seem to see off something invisible.
The explanation is simple: their vibrations are whiskers, in other words, they catch the slightest movement of air currents.
Here, say, the wind blew into the window open in the kitchen, the air came into motion, and the ancient hunting instinct makes the cat closely monitor this process.
By the way, another myth that cats see in the dark is debunked “on the count of times. ”
They see no more than ours, but they are perfectly oriented with the help of all the same vibrissi - this is their main organ of touch.
By the way, touching stories that a cat will always find its way home, take it away from home at least five hundred kilometers, also from the field of folk myth-making.
I know of a hundred cases when these guys, for example, taken with them to visit a neighboring village or “on the nature ” and escaped from their owners, never returned themselves – they searched for them all over the world and did not always find them.
And nine cat lives is also a strong exaggeration.
Cats, like humans, suffer from toothache, kidney and liver disease, eventually losing vision and hearing.
And their life is one, fragile and not very long compared to human.
– There is an opinion that “cats cure ”, help to get rid of the disease.
Or is it also a myth?
– I communicate very closely with the owners of various cat breeds, and many argue that their pets have incredible healing powers.
Alas, there are no scientific data confirming the medicinal abilities of baleen - striped - I have shoveled a mountain of serious literature on this topic.
And here is how interesting it turns out - there is no data, but the therapeutic effect is present!
But in fact, everything is simple - we, communicating with cats, experience a lot of positive emotions, in addition, these cute creatures are associated with us with comfort and peace.
Therefore, people next to cats relax, they normalize the work of the whole body.
From the ineradicable human belief that “cats cure ”, there was such a phenomenon as felinotherapy.
Well, there is dolphin therapy, there is hippotherapy - this is when patients ride horses, there is canistherapy - when they are "treated" by communicating with dogs, and then cats also took care of human health.
There ’ s nothing wrong with this – I read that it seems in the US that therapists who have worked with mentally retarded children have found that cats are very beneficial to people with various mental illnesses, brain damage, and even promote the healing of addicts to alcohol and drugs.
The cat, in fact, does not do anything unusual, it simply swallows to the patient, lies on the chest, makes its cat "massage", slightly releasing the claws.
Her warmth, soothing rumbling allow the patient to calm down - and anxiety, nervousness recede.
And then, you need to know that the body temperature of these animals is somewhere 38-39 degrees, and in such a breed as the sphinx - and all 42, so if this "heating pad" lies, say, on the area of   the inflamed joint, then, indeed, temporary relief may come.
But seriously count on a cure for the disease by applying cats to sick places is not worth it.
I came across articles where the authors directly indicated the “specialization ” of kotekas depending on gender, length of wool and breed – the British type“ from the heart ”, short-haired “girls ” – from female diseases, and male cats – from sciatica.
Delusions and ignorance.
- All right, cat therapy's been sorted out.
But what breeds are currently considered the most popular, the most popular?
- The most popular at all times was and remains a "real nobleman" - a cat of the yard breed, which does not have any documents.
Do you remember Matroskin? - Ears, paws, tail - these are my documents...
By the way, now more and more often there are exhibitions of mongrel cats, and everything is serious there - the general condition, grooming and beauty of the coat are evaluated, for patterned cats - the "readability" of strips and spots, the harmony of the composition and much more.
If we talk about really fashionable breeds today, then the Maine Coons are leading here - for Russia this is no longer a new and very popular breed.
Huge size and semi-wild appearance, but at the same time - sociable and good-natured.
British shorthair and Russian blue breeds are still in demand - plush tenderness, round, always surprised eyes - the charm itself.
Also very popular are Scottish Fold cats, cats of Burmese and Abyssinian breed, Neva masquerade, and, of course, the Persians - these are out of fashion, love for all times.
As for naked cats - St. Petersburg, Don and Canadian sphinxes, Peterbalds, elves, bambinos and cohons, everything is not easy here.
They are either adored or not accepted at all.
Wanting to get some unusual, “cool ” animal, a person takes such a kitten into the house, but often can not come to terms with its appearance and some features.
However, people appreciate their resemblance to alien beings, their playfulness, tenderness, friendliness.
These cats have almost no smell, and the lack of wool makes it incredibly easy to care for.
– There is an opinion that there are breeds of “evil ” and“ good ” – is it true?
- No, it's a delusion.
It all depends on the upbringing and attitude to the animal.
Growing up in love and affection, the cat is calm and serene, it does not show aggression, and the breed does not play any role here.
I have a friend for some time fed a stray cat on the stairwell - not alone, other neighbors - too.
And then one day at the place where food was usually left, she saw an ad - "Do not put the bowls, the cat is no longer here.
We took him home to love him. ”
I was crying when I heard this story.
It is necessary to take an animal into the house with the sole purpose - to love, otherwise it is not necessary to start all this "cotovasiya".
Svetlana ZAVADSKAYA

Egyptians worshiped cats for over four thousand years.

Title:

Content: Advertisement
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March 28 is Cat Respect Day.
The best reason to look at their photos (with respect!)
Today at 18: 23
History confirms that the love of mankind for cats has lasted for exactly more than four thousand years - this is one of the few animals worshiped in ancient Egypt.
And some of the goddesses, the most famous of which is Bastet, were even depicted with a cat's head.
In the Middle Ages, King Richard II of England issued a decree prohibiting the use of cats in food.
Some historians believe that this happened on March 28, 1384 - this is how the Day of Respect for Cats was born.
How can you celebrate this day with your pet?
• Spend time with her or him: caress, lie down next to him, play.
It seems obvious, but sometimes work and other things make you forget about literally everything in the world.
• Buy a new toy or delicacy - here even comments are not needed, this can definitely please the four-legged.
Perhaps you have not visited a veterinarian for a long time, and this holiday will serve as a reminder to show care of this kind.
After all, even if the pet seems healthy, it should be regularly shown to a specialist.
Twitter shares photos of their favorites
@ memesmymemes suggested that other users throw their cats and cats into the replays — but, of course, “do it with respect. ”
Commentators share frames of pets, and judging by the faces of many, it is better not to even approach them without respect.
“Go get me the fish, slave! ” – represents the speech of his furry companion @ purplenkii.
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Their spiritual prestige was embodied in the goddess Bastet, often depicted as a cat or a woman with a cat's head.

Title:

Content: The mummy of a pet: why and why did the ancient Egyptians do this?
1: 43
The Egyptians showed special respect for their pets, their love was so great that they wanted these animals to have eternal life.
After death, pets were mummified and went through a complex burial process.
In ancient Egyptian worldview, four-legged and feathered creatures were considered sacred, divine and influencing their destinies.
They occupied an honorable place in the pantheon, and the gods were often depicted with animal heads.
Mummification was an integral part of this religious practice, emphasizing the special status of these creatures in the eyes of the Egyptians.
The Egyptians mummified various animals, believing that their gods could take different forms.
For example, the goddess Bast, the daughter of Ra, was depicted as a cat or a woman with a cat ’ s head.
This goddess symbolized well-being, joy, love and fertility.
The Egyptians especially revered cats for their ability to exterminate rodents, which was critical for preserving grain stocks, then considered valuable as gold.
Cats have also earned the nickname “sunny eye ” due to their ability to see in the dark.
This property made them important symbols in Egyptian mythology.
Archaeological studies conducted at the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa have uncovered the burial of crocodiles, one of which has been preserved in the form of a practically whole mummy, providing a unique look at the ancient rites and veneration of animals in this culture.
Author Petr Deryabin
Petr Deryabin – journalist, correspondent of Pravda.Ru news service

Bastet evolved from a war goddess into a guardian of the household and family.

Title:

Content: The cat becomes the goddess Baxter! 2 Meow to look: Are you also suffering?
Editorial Center / General Report
2022-09-02 13: 35: 40
In Egyptian mythology, Bastet is the goddess of the head of the cat, also known as the goddess of the cat, the goddess of pregnancy and childbirth, who was once a goddess of war, and slowly transformed into the guardian of the family, symbolizing the warmth and joy of the family.
And the Japanese master uses "simple one thing", so that their two black cats into the goddess Bastet, they look at each other high and low, as if to comfort each other: "It seems that you can not escape the master's claws ah ~".
This is an advertisement, please continue reading.
On the 1st, the Lord posted a message saying that he put a fruit net on his cat ’ s head to make it look noble and cute, and his wife laughed and said that he was like the Egyptian goddess Bastet. Soon after he ate the marrow and made another cat change, and two black cats forced to become goddesses, one standing on a higher cupboard, with the door as the center. They look down at each other, and they look at each other with a thousand words in their eyes.
Netizens reply "My cat also has imitation haha", "round eyes are so cute", "Sorry, I did the same thing to my parents' cat" XDD "," My dog has been played by my wife before, but it looks good (laughs) ".
(Editor: Li Huiting)
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Bastet, as a daughter of Ra, was associated with well-being, joy, love, fertility, and family warmth.

In Egyptian belief, cats warded off evil spirits and defended homes and families.

Title:

Content: As before, cats were used to ward off evil spirits: try it yourself
Where did the idea that cats ward off evil spirits come from?
1: 39
Since ancient times, cats have been famous for their mystery and special abilities.
In the world of folklore and legends, they often act as protectors against evil spirits and evil forces.
In antiquity and the Middle Ages it was believed that cats have a special sacred gift that helps them protect their homes and their owners from unfavorable energies.
In Egyptian mythology, cats were considered sacred animals associated with the goddess Bastet.
They were depicted as defenders of the home, as well as patrons of the family.
In medieval Europe, cats were often associated with magic and witchcraft, leading to their persecution during the Inquisition.
However, among the peoples of Scandinavia and Great Britain, cats were often seen as a symbol of protection from evil spirits.
In Scandinavian mythology, cats were considered companions of warriors and guides of souls of the dead on Asgard.
They were also supposed to be able to see hidden worlds and predict the future.
In the English folklore tradition, the black cat was considered a symbol of good luck and protection from evil spirits.
In medieval England, it was even believed that the owners of black cats have a special charm and protection from misfortune.
In Scotland, it was believed that if a black cat visits a house, it brings good luck and well-being to the family.
Traditions and legends about the protective power of cats are preserved in the modern world.
Many people still consider their furry friends not only faithful companions, but also mystical guardians, able to scare away evil spirits and bring harmony to the house.
Author Ilya Panferov
Ilya Panferov — freelance correspondent of Pravda.Ru

Bastet was believed to take the form of a black cat at night to drive away evil forces.

Title:

Content: Cat Cold Knowledge ｜ 4 Mysterious Legends of Black Cats Are Black Cats a Symbol of Good Luck or Bad Luck?
Author: Wang Meow Planet
Published: Updated:
Black cats are a symbol of bad luck.
If you have an IG, follow us!
Take a look at the mysterious legends of the four black cats!
▼ ▼ ▼ The Mysterious Legend of the Black Cat ▼ ▼
+ 13
Are black cats really cute?
The black cat looks very mysterious, in fact, super caring and loving, like to stay close to the slave.
A black cat is a tiger cat.
Tiger spotted is a characteristic of cats, not a breed, and can be called a tiger spotted cat with stripes and markings.
Look and see ~ Black cats are not necessarily all black, and some of their hair is brown in the sun!
Black cats are a symbol of auspiciousness in Japan!
Peach Blossom: Single women with black cats can make love smoother!
Black cats are the most powerful.
Black cats are different everywhere.
Taiwan: Unlucky
The older generation thought that the black cat with white feet would jump over the body and the body would rise.
China: Escape from Evil Town
The house is haunted, and black cats are invited to walk around the house to help ward off evil spirits.
Ancient Egypt: The Protector of the Black Cat
The ancient Egyptian goddess "Bast" is a cat's head, and at night will be transformed into a black cat to protect the human body and drive away the evil spirit.
Italy: Death is near.
Legend has it that if a black cat is seen lying on a patient ’ s bed, it means death is near.
Although there are many mysterious legends about black cats, they are actually very cute and close to people!
Further reading: The cat immediately meows after defecating is to invite the cat owner to enjoy it?
5 reasons behind it.
+ 16
[This article is reproduced with permission from Wang Meow Planet.]
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In Egyptian culture, cats symbolized strength, protection, power, fertility, and invincibility.

Title:

Content: Pharaonic Monuments: "Secrets" Revealed by "Rare" Mummies of Egyptian Crocodiles
• Mohammed Hamida
• BBC - Cairo
The ancient Egyptian worshiped animals and placed them in the ranks of gods, making them various temples.
Thus, the calf "Apis", the cat "Bess", the jackal and the cobra are all signs and symbols of the ancient Egyptian, he resorted to them to give him strength and protect him from the treachery of nature at times.
Crocodiles represented prestige, strength, invincibility and even fertility, according to sources.
In the Qubat al-Hawa area on the west bank of the Nile in Aswan, some excavations were made in a rock tomb dedicated to major figures during the Middle Kingdom of the ancient Egyptian era, where crocodile mummies were found.
In the Middle Kingdom, crocodile worship spread to Egypt, where the country was in a period of great prosperity.
The central state consisted of the 11th to 13th dynasties, with Egypt as a state with influence in areas from the Syrian coast in the north to Nubia in the south.
But Egypt entered after the thirteenth dynasty in a huge stumbling block, was the prelude to the occupation of the Hyksos for decades, only by the hands of the king Saknin Ra and his sons Kams and Ahmos, where Ahmos completed the task of driving the Hyksos out of the country after the killing of his father and brother.
But the cult of the “alligator god ” did not disappear despite the age of decay that prevailed in the country; it existed even after the end of the dynastic era.
Ten crocodiles in the area of   the Dome of the Air
A team from the University of Chian, Spain, has worked in the Quba al-Hawa area since 2008 in rock tombs, and in 2019 the team revealed 10 crocodiles in good condition of embalming on the West Bank of the Nile.
Alejandro Jiménez, professor of Egyptology at the Spanish University of Jian and director of the excavation project at the Dome of the Hawa, told the BBC that although the linen wraps around these crocodiles had disappeared, the condition of the crocodiles is considered good, which is rare in this region.
Jimenez added that this gave scientists the opportunity to study crocodiles from this era diligently after we found them in good condition, studies were done in museums on the remains of crocodiles, but in our case we studied them in the cemetery.
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Why the crocodile?
The ancient Egyptian worshiped animals, especially those that he could not tame and humiliate for his domestic or foreign works, so he went to sanctify them and put them in the ranks of gods, according to scholars.
The "crocodile god" or what the ancient Egyptians called "Sobek", is an ancient Egyptian god associated with the Nile, and is depicted in the form of a man with the head of a crocodile, or directly in the form of a crocodile, and symbolizes in ancient Egyptian religion power and fertility, and was especially associated with the dangers posed by the Nile with its flood.
But references from some sources confirm that the nicknames given to the "Sobek" were representative of the violent and huge nature of the crocodile, he was called "the one who eats while sleeping", according to the Italian Egyptologist Ida Bresciani.
Sobek was the fertility god of the ancient Egyptians.
Alejandro says some of the crocodiles found in the area of   the Dome of the Hawa are up to three meters long, which raises the question of how to catch and deal with these huge animals.
Alejandro estimated that these animals were left in the sun for a long time, dehydrated and died before the embalming process where we found them.
The report, published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, indicates that the crocodiles discovered were covered with a layer of bitumen, which is common in the later periods of ancient history.
The magazine says the roof of all the skulls of the Hawa Dome crocodiles is intact, and there are no traces that could be linked to the killing of animals.
She stressed that among the various methods mentioned to kill crocodiles, those that do not leave obvious traces.
Stones in the crocodile's belly.
The manager of the excavation project at the Dome of the Hawa says that the vital organs of the crocodiles were impressively present in the mummies, and that the stomach was not removed as usual when embalming, and it is likely that these crocodiles were buried in the sand and after a while they were covered with bitumen and embalmed as they are.
Alejandro confirms that a number of stones have been found inside the stomach of crocodiles, which is a common practice used by crocodiles to balance them inside the water.
He points out that he has discovered two types of crocodiles, the Nile crocodile and the West African crocodile of different lengths.
The crocodiles were roaming over Egypt with the flood of the Nile, a supernatural force of the ancient Egyptian who feared and was preparing for the great river.
Floods were destroying the habitats of animals living on the banks of the Nile and rats were rushing into the highlands and cobras were killing mice, so the Egyptians revered them and placed them on the crowns of kings.
The crocodile was also a creature too great to satisfy its appetite for a mouse, for example, so during the Nile flood it attacked cows and possibly people.
The Egyptians therefore placed him among the great gods associated with the flood of the Nile.
The Spanish scientist points out that the importance of detection comes from the fact that many of the studies carried out in the past years on crocodile mummies were about the remains of crocodiles that were in museums and not in cemeteries like this case, which gave us a lot of unique information.
Many museums around the world have Egyptian animal mummies and crocodiles among them.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo has the largest collection of animal mummies, yet the crocodiles discovered are extremely rare in modern fossils.

Egyptians valued cats for exterminating rodents and safeguarding grain stocks.

Cats' keen night vision earned them the nickname "sunny eye."

Egyptians mummified and buried cats with ritual care to ensure eternal life.

Archaeology at Saqqara has uncovered cat statues, mummies, and amulets tied to Bastet, as well as a mummification workshop.

Title:

Content: One is human and the other is animal.
The discovery of the two largest mummification workshops in Egyptian Sakkara
Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa announced during a press conference yesterday, Saturday, the discovery of the largest and most complete embalming workshops, one human and the other animal from the era of the Pharaonic dynasty 30.
Issa pointed out that the mission, headed by the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Waziri, also revealed two tombs and a number of archaeological finds, during the completion of the excavations of the mission in the cemetery of sacred animals (Bobaston) in the area of   Saqqara antiquities south of Cairo.
The Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri explained that the two workshops discovered date back to the late 30th era of the Pharaonic dynasty (from 380 BC to 343 BC) and the beginning of the Ptolemaic era.
"The mummification workshop contains five limestone beds, which are submerged in the floor and relatively different from those found in the human mummification workshop," Waziri said, noting that they were likely used to mummify sacred animals associated with the gods Bastet.
The human embalming workshop that was revealed is a rectangular mud-brick building, divided from the inside into a number of rooms containing two beds for human embalming.
Each bed is 2 meters long, 1 meter wide and 50 cm high, and consists of several stone blocks and is covered from the top with a layer of mortar or mortar (a building material used to tie the bricks) with a tendency ending in a gutter (a pipe that carries rainwater from the roof of the building to the ground).
The first tomb belonged to a person named Ni Hasut Ba, an Old Kingdom official from the Fifth Dynasty, around 2400 BC, and held many religious and administrative titles.
The second tomb belongs to a person named "from Khabar" from the New Kingdom era of the 18th Dynasty (1400 BC).
M) He held the title of the priest of the gods Kadesh, a foreign idol of Canaanite origin from the region of Syria was worshiped in the city of Kadesh and worshiped in Egypt in the age of the 18th Dynasty, according to the director general of the region of the monuments of Saqqara Sabri Faraj.
It is noteworthy that the Egyptian archaeological mission began its work at the site of the cemetery of the Bobaston since 2018, as it was able to uncover a unique tomb of a priest from the fifth dynasty named "Wachti" in addition to seven rock tombs, including three from the modern state, four from the old state, and the front of a cemetery from the old state.
In 2019, a sacred animal sanctuary was unveiled, which contains more than 1,000 Vians amulets, dozens of wooden cat statues, cat mummies, wooden statues and mummies of various animals, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
During the expedition ’ s excavation season last year, its team was able to uncover the first and largest cache of bronze statues in Basqara ’ s Bobaston Cemetery, containing 150 bronze statues of ancient Egyptian deities, as well as 250 sealed colored wooden coffins containing mummies.
The mission is scheduled to complete its work at the site during the upcoming excavation seasons in an attempt to uncover more secrets and secrets of this area.
The Saqqara Archaeological Area is one of the most important parts of the Memphis Cemetery, which is registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which serves as a museum that highlights part of the ancient Egyptian history, as it houses the oldest stone building in human history, the pyramid of Djoser, in addition to many pyramids of kings and queens.
Source: Al Jazeera + Sanad + Social Media

At Berenice's pet cemetery, over 200 cat tombs were found with toys, pottery, and other animals.

Title:

Content: UkrainskUKR
EnglishENG
PolskiPOL
russianRUS
Among the graves of cats, dogs and monkeys.
In the cemetery of pets in Egypt found letters written by ancient Roman generals
2 minutes
567
An ancient pet cemetery in Egypt has become a find for a rare Roman history.
Along with carefully constructed tombs for more than 200 beloved cats, dogs and monkeys, archaeologists have found letters written 1900 years ago by the hands of nearby Roman centurions.
The burial ground, dating from the first and second centuries, is located in Berenice, a port on the Red Sea in southern Egypt built by the Roman emperor Tiberius.
The Osipino team first discovered the cemetery in 2011, and since then they have been slowly digging it up, writes Smithsonian.
Among the tombs of cats, dogs and exotic monkeys, researchers found pottery, Roman coins, and more recently several letters written on papyrus by military officers commanding units of the Roman legions.
Among the graves of the animals, researchers found countless ostracons – pieces of pottery with engraved inscriptions – but papyri are the first paper texts found at the site.
These sources of knowledge about the ancient inhabitants of Berenice come from the era of Emperor Nero, a brutal Roman ruler of the mid-first century.
During his reign, Berenick was the center of intercontinental trade, through which goods flowed from India, Arabia and East Africa.
The port was home to regional merchants, Roman trade chiefs, and, as historians have long suspected, but never before justified, a division of the Roman army.
The newly found correspondence contains several names of the alleged Roman centurions: Haosus, Lucinius, and Petronius.
In one letter, Petronius asks Lucinia, who is in Berenice, about the prices of some exclusive goods.
Petronius writes that he sends money through the "dromedary", a division of Roman soldiers traveling by camel, and tells Lucinia to provide the soldiers with veal and poles, "writes Science in Poland.
Researchers believe that the ancient Romans probably kept papyri in a nearby office, which was later destroyed by accidentally distributing its contents to a pet cemetery.
The letters are the latest evidence of developed Roman trade found in the cemetery, according to a statement: the skeletons of several buried monkeys recently identified as macaques originating from India show that the Romans imported non-utilitarian animals across the oceans.
These primates, along with long-haired cats and miniature dogs, were "elite pets," and many were buried with toys, pottery, or other companion animals.
“It is difficult to combine the image of the commanders of the ancient foreign legion with such animals, which were“ treated as family members ”, but our findings clearly show that the military elite surrounded themselves with elite domestic animals and led an exclusive lifestyle, ” comments scientist Marta Osypinska Institute of Archaeology of Wroclaw University.
Earlier OBOZ.UA said that experts have identified the most terrible sound in the world.
It's called the Death Whistle.
Only verified information we have in the Telegram-channel OBOZ.UA and Viber.
Don't be fooled by fakes!

Mummification for beloved animals involved removing organs, drying with natron, and wrapping in linens to preserve them for the afterlife.

Title:

Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
Australian report: How ancient Egyptians treated their dead reveals how much they loved life
An Australian report praised the archaeological discovery of Saqqara to find a mummy wrapped in gold foil, stressing that: The way the ancient Egyptians dealt with their dead reveals how much they love life and the sincere hope of continued existence after death.
In January 2023, a group of archaeologists excavating tombs at the ancient Saqqara cemetery, near Cairo, discovered the mummified remains of a man called Hakaships, who lived around 2300 BC, and found inside a limestone coffin in the burial shaft, the body and casings unusually well preserved for the period.
In the 5th century BC, the Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus described the elaborate way in which the Egyptians kept their dead: the brain was removed through the nostrils with a hook, while the internal organs were removed through a wound in the abdomen.
The wound is then sutured and the body is rinsed with wine and spices, the body is left to dry in a solution of natron (a substance harvested from dry lake bottoms and used to absorb moisture) for up to 70 days, after which time it is carefully wrapped with linen bandages and finally placed inside a coffin.
By the time Herodotus wrote this, the Egyptians had been practicing mummification for more than two thousand years, gradually perfecting the technique through experimentation.
The pre-dynastic mummies of the 4th millennium BC were so well preserved by dry desert sands — without human intervention — that their tattoos are still visible.
Why did the ancient Egyptians mummify their dead?
The Egyptians long noticed that bodies buried in graves without direct contact with dry sand tended to decompose and sought to prevent it for religious reasons, and without a physical body to which it could return, they believed that the essence of the soul could not participate in the offerings of food brought to the cemetery and were instead left to wander into the world of the living as a harmful spirit.
Mummification techniques were developed in order to preserve the body in order, as the first methods, which appeared no later than the time of the unification of the state around 3100 BC, included wrapping the body with linen dressings moistened with resin.
However, when the intestines are left in place, the body eventually decomposes.

Family cat owners would shave their eyebrows to mourn their pet's death, showing their deep attachment.

In ancient Egypt, cats were spiritually revered and cherished as protectors, family patrons, and companions.