[15]:77–79 In Ovid's Metamorphoses, when the gods flee to Egypt and take animal forms, the goddess Diana (the Roman equivalent of Artemis) turns into a cat. Since ancient times, their supernatural grace has been observed, revered (as well as demonized), and incorporated into art and mythology. Books The famous story of Puss in Boots (best known through the French version by Charles Perrault, 1628-1703 CE) is taken from a much older Indian folk tale in the Panchatantra from the 5th century BCE (though the character of the cat’s master has a very different personality in the older tale than the one in Perrault’s story). On one occasion, Senchan was called to visit (human) King Guaire. According to Sanrio, the official licenser, designer, and producer of Hello Kitty merchandise, the character is a cartoon version of a little girl. Somehow the house cat was passed by in the Chinese Zodiac and the 28 Xing Xiu ( a system that divides […] [3][1]. In the Ramayana, the god Indra disguises himself as a cat after seducing the beautiful maid Ahalya as a means to escape from her husband. Black cats in mythology became the historically cited companion of witches and therefore cats became notably reviled. Cats in ancient Egypt were represented in social and religious practices of ancient Egypt for more than 3,000 years. Cats are thought to have been brought to Europe by Phoenician traders who smuggled them out of Egypt. They associated the cat with liberty and divinity and so the cat was the only animal allowed to walk freely around their temples. Cats, however, were more interested in sleeping beneath the cherry trees and playing with the falling blossoms than with the mundane task of having to pay attention to the operation of the world. One day, when the fishermen were collecting rocks to use with the fixed-nets, a stray rock fell and killed one of the cats. by Mary Harrsch (Photographed at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, Calif.) (CC BY-NC-SA), by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin (CC BY-NC-SA), by Mary Harrsch (Photographed at the Museo Archaeologico Nazionale di Napoli) (CC BY-SA). The people of ancient Egypt worshiped the cat god, Bastet, as one of their highest deities. The Egyptians worshiped a huge pantheon of gods and goddesses, with the inclusion of various sacred animals. In many societies and cultures, it was believed that a surefire way to bring misfortune into your... Lucky Cats. (2012, November 17). There is no historical evidence that Whittington had a cat,[21] In the tale, Dick Whittington, a poor orphan finds work at the great house of Mr. Fitzwarren, a rich merchant. In an 1860 article, Hale wrote that cats were not solely for older women or monarchs and that anyone should feel comfortable in embracing the “love and virtue” of the cat. But Mesopotamian cultures elevated the feline to god status. [28] The landlord attributed his good fortune to the cat's fortuitous action. The concept, known as “transmigration of soul” is also found in Egypt. This is not the only cat shrine in Japan, however. In 1233 Pope Gregory IX composed in his Papal Bull “Vox in Rama” really denounced black cats as hellish. Mark, Joshua J. Irusan, King of the Cats Long ago lived a Irish poet named Senchan Torpeist, who was so known for his ability to roast people with his rhymes that even William Shakespeare wrote about him. In Japan, the flapping of the hand is a "come here" gesture, so the cat is beckoning customers. 20 Dec 2020. The kasha is a yokai, or a supernatural monster, spirit, or demon in Japanese folklore. During some periods in Egypt's history, cats were even seen as divine creatures. The fishermen, feeling sorry for the loss of the cat, buried it and enshrined it at this location on the island. It is thought that cats were originally domesticated because they hunted mice that would eat stored grains, but a recent study found that cats domesticated themselves. Members of the cat family are native to most parts of the world except Australia, Madagascar and a few isolated islands. Domestic cats have their place along side the big cats in mythology, too. [17] Pliny linked them with lust,[18] and Aesop with deviousness and cunning. Humans tend to either love or hate cats. Feline Forever: Mythology - cats in ancient Greece. Legends from Thailand (Siam), Burma, and other Asian countries, have cats as the vessel that transports a monk’s or royal person’s soul to heaven after death. Published by Louis A. Godey of Philadelphia from 1830 -1878, this monthly periodical featured stories, articles, poems, and engravings and is perhaps best known for helping to institutionalize the practice of the family Christmas tree in America (although it also advocated for women's rights, education, the celebration of Thansgiving, and was among the first to publish Edgar Allen Poe's work). Felines as familiars have a long and dark history in western mythology. 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