A mythology of cats book that proceeds, because of serious author bias, to ignore all the dark myths about cats and only give the reader the good ones. Writers have always been fascinated by cats and we’re celebrating this Saturday with these Famous Bookish Cats. Hercules would grow up to fight the Nemean Lion. The Most Famous Cats In Film If the Oscars had a category for cats, we’d be looking at a long list of sure winners. Cait Sith. The male (yang) rests his right paw on a carved sphere and guards the physical structure; the female (yin) rests her left paw on a cub, symbolizing the cycle of life. Whether lion, tiger, or tabby, in ancient Asian mythology, the cat’s primary role is that of guide and guardian of the human body and soul. With his bare arms, Heracles strangled the lion then skinned the beast with his own razor sharp claws. This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total. They bring us together and instill within us a tremendous amount of love and happiness. I’ve noted the names that are specifically famous cats in mythology. Cats have lived alongside human beings for a tremendously long time. Fact: As a tree-climbing species, the cat’s survival depends on … TARDAR SAUCE AKA GRUMPY CAT. Sekhmet. Cat Names Inspired by Roman Mythology Venus (goddess of love, beauty and fertility) Saturn (god of Time) Flora (goddess of flowers) Leo. To assist Bellerophon in his mission, the goddess Athena gifted him a charmed golden bridle and Pegasus, the winged horse. We start our top 40 list with famous cats from film and TV. These cats frequently discovered their way into literature. Great Rumpus Cat – In Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, a major hero. Lilith had the power of taking the shape of a giant, black, polymorphous cat. Ancient Egyptians called the cats Mau and domesticated them about 4,000-5,000 years ago. Bakeneko has sometimes been translated as ‘Monster Cat’ or ‘Ghost Cat’, but the best definition in English may simply be ‘Changing Cat.’ The mythological Bakeneko are yōkai (supernatural creatures) that allegedly begin as regular domestic cats. The practice of protective stone lions standing guard is a concept widely seen in many cultures. Our next Egyptian cat … The Church believed that the cats were helping the Devil and were responsible for the "black death"! All are Greek mythological hybrid feline creatures; the Chimera, the Sphinx, and the Nemean Lion, or Leo, were pedigreed monster siblings from a fierce family that wreaked havoc on humans across the countryside with no Cat Daddy to call for help. Alonzo – A black and white tom cat in Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Ancient Egyptians highly worshipped and respected felines and protected them by law. From the Icelandic Yule Lads to sea monsters, Iceland has … The Leonine Mother . Remember Mufasa and Simba from The Lion King? ; Aristotle – A kitten who depends on his nine lives and the magical powers of his owner in The Nine Lives of Aristotle by Dick King-Smith. Some accounts give her three lion heads and a goat’s body; in either version she was horrific. Farmers used to leave out precious milk for cats so Freya would bless their harvests. Most of us are familiar with some sort of magical tales about our kitties. During this period, devout Christians associated cats with witches, Satan and dark magic, the black cat in particular was feared the most. Myths may have been employed to explain a particular ritual, honour heroic actions, or impart wisdom; they could be serious or humourous, and, though ostensibly based on historical events, they did not have to be proven real to be important. The people of ancient Egypt worshiped the cat god, Bastet, as one of their highest deities. Ancient Celtic lore speaks of Grimalkin, a grey cat with magical powers. In Japan, the famous image of the `Beckoning Cat’ (the maneki neko figure of the cat with one raised paw) represents the goddess of mercy. In this article we have compiled a list of names of famous cats so that you feel that loving nostalgia every time you call your pet. Cats as witch’s buddies are still a part of the popular symbology connected with the modern-day vacation of Halloween. People questioned whether it had been altered, and so her owners upload videos to Youtube to show her off in all her glory. The myth followed emigrants to the New World as well. These beliefs were particularly popular in Portugal and England. In Norse mythology, Freya, goddess of fertility, war, and death, would lead Valkyries into battle to collect fallen soldiers, riding on a chariot led by two formidable blue cats: Bygul and Trjegul. Archeological findings strongly suggest that early humans in the Upper Paleolithic Period, or Old Stone Age, a period extending from 35,000 to 8300 BC, were the progenitors of mythology, and lion-headed figurines played a prominent role in their spiritual beliefs. (Just a guess, considering our site is called Find Cat Names.) These classic characters are bound to spark some happy memories. Many cats, especially all black cats, were destroyed during the wave of the plague, and their owners at times were persecuted as well. The pet cat of Nāṣer-al-Dīn Shah Qājār, Babrī Khan, was quite famous (Eʿtemād-al-Salṭana, p. 21), and some Qajar aristocrats kept cats (Hedāyat, Ḵāṭerāt o ḵaṭarāt, pp. One breed of cat, the Siamese, has long been associated with the Temples of Siam. Some are cartoon, some are animated and some are cat actors. Thus began the tradition of erecting stone lions not only at the tombs of people of stature, but also at the entrances to their palaces, temples, and other important places. One of the preeminent goddesses in the Norse mythology was Freya ("Lady"). ‘If you want to write, keep cats.’ ~Aldous Huxley Saturday is known as #Caturday on the Internet. One of the best aspects of Icelandic mythology is how pervasive it is in modern culture. Perhaps thanks to its nine lives, the cat endured; traversing time and cultures, the feline has remained a constant figure in world mythology. The battle was epic. Their breath infected you with consumption and their bite was poisonous. The Beckoning Cat was credited for saving his life and even to this day it is a symbol for success, harmony and happiness. Bastet, a prominent cat goddess from Ancient Egypt, is probably the most famous of all the cat gods. 3. This is akin to writing "the mythology of wicca", say, and ignoring all witch burnings and dark magic, or doing the mythology of the Aztecs and ignoring the human sacrifices. 150 Mysterious Names for Cats Over 150 mysterious names for cats. A baby crawls in the morning on all fours, at noon an adult walks on two legs, and in the evening of life, an aged man walks with a cane—three legs. During the Middle Ages, cats were despised by the Church. Thus, Eurystheus sent Heracles on 12 thought to be impossible missions, the first to slay the Nemean Lion. Despite this armory, the determined Heracles blocked one entrance of the cave, trapping the lion. In the stories surrounding these fearsome adversaries, it was human wisdom and intelligence (sometimes with the help of the gods) that saved the day from the ravages of this duo’s progeny. When the bubonic plague swept the European continent in the 14th century, killing up to 60% of the human population in some regions, the Church blamed the Devil. Cats are rather mystical themselves, appearing in mythology and literature as otherworldly beings. Odin. Cats are beautiful and mythical animals who have kept people talking about them since the dawn of recorded history. Simhavaktra Dakini, the ferocious lion-faced guardian of Vajrayana Buddhism, is a female “sky-walker” who guides human beings along the right path and removes physical hindrances and spiritual obstacles such as pride and ego. The cat would be moved to a temple with servants, spending the rest of its life in pure luxury. Firestar – The main character for the first arc of the Warriors books. Presidents of the United States tend to be dog owners, but there were exceptions. Check out these other not-so-famous cats with well-known owners. Find out 10 famous people who loved their feline companions. She is … Did you see Venus the two-faced cat, Grumpy Cat, Hamilton the hipster or Colonel Meow? According to the actress herself, recording the scene of abandonment was one of the most unpleasant she had to do, since she was a … Cats can be famous just because of their unusual looks (not like us, humans). This is a very common cat mythology and most people do believe in this theory. With Pegasus, he defeated the Chimera and exultantly returned home. These are just some examples of the cat’s dominance in these endlessly fascinating and deeply complex world mythologies illustrating their society’s cultural and spiritual beliefs. For centuries, folks in England believed that a cat is liable to … She bestowed the gifts of sexual pleasure, joy, beauty and grace. Thor. Discover the best Greek cat names, Greek god names for cats. You need to remember that cats are different from dogs and any comparison between them is futile. It is from the Egyptians that the myth of cats having nine lives originated. Tortoiseshell cats are also believed to be lucky in Japan, especially tortoiseshell males. We’ve put together a post on 30 (or so) famous fictional cats for you to enjoy. Found in Hohlenstein Stadel cave in Germany, the statue was carved from mammoth ivory using a flint stone knife and dates to about 32,000 BC. The goddess cat was highly admired and respected.Bastet was worshipped as the protector goddess of Lower Egypt and guardian of the pharaoh. The goddess cat in Egyptian mythology is well known in the world of mythology. Oedipus had correctly realized it was an analogy of man’s life. They gifted the animal with nine lives due to its miraculous ability to always land on its feet. We've compiled a list of 127 mystical names for cats inspired by a variety of mystical figures, fairies, objects, places, and stones. What do the three have in common? Bastet, also known as Bast, is associated with the Goddess Isis. In the pantheon of gods and deities, the majestic feline has reigned supreme for over 30,000 years. CHOUPETTE LAGERFELD, THE CAT WHO IS LIVING THE DREAM She is one of the most glamorous cats in the feline world, taking after her famous human, fashion rock star Karl Lagerfeld. Gandalf. The cat was central to their religion and was considered to be sacred. Greece is an excellent source of inspiration for kitten names. Many of our favorites are inspired by mythology, so that led us to create this extensive list of names we’re excited to share. We call a mysterious or enigmatic person a sphinx or refer to them as having sphinx-like traits. The Chanel-loving cat won Lagerfeld’s heart after staying with him for a couple of weeks when her first owner, model Baptiste Giabiconi, was abroad. To Freya, all cats were sacred. Legends say that as cats get older they change. Half snake and half woman, Echidna was their beastly mother. Domestic cats have their place along side the big cats in mythology, too. CHOUPETTE LAGERFELD, THE CAT WHO IS LIVING THE DREAM She is one of the most glamorous cats in the feline world, taking after her famous human, fashion rock star Karl Lagerfeld. If you are obsessed with pop culture, here are 130 famous cat names you'll want to check out. Most tales say that cats did this because they were jealous of the newborn who stole all the attention from them. There is considerable overlap in world mythologies because myths began as an oral tradition. If you would like to pay homage to your new kitty’s killer instincts, these whimsical cat names for females from film and mythology charmingly embrace the killer concept. Inara (female) - In Middle Eastern mythology, a goddess who protected animals. The guardian lions are found in other Asian cultures with variations on the theme of life and death. Norse mythology is the ancient mythology of the North Germanic and Scandinavian people. Famous cats throughout history. Some referred to Bastet as “Lady of Flame” and “Eye of Ra”.In ancient Egypt there was a death penalty for killing a cat. In fact, cats were so sacred that when a family cat passed on, the whole clan would go into mourning and the animal would be mummified and buried in a special cemetery. Get all the cats you can There are many myths all over the world about the infamous Siamese cats. Prophet Mohammed is said to have loved felines very much. Basepaws, Inc. All rights reserved. The Cat in Celtic Lore and Shakespeare. Cat Mythology Fact #2: This sacred animal was so important to the Egyptian society and religion, that after the cat's death, its body was mummified and buried in a special cemetery.. Also, the Egyptians had strict laws prohibiting the export of cats. The oldest known animal-shaped sculpture is a lion-headed, human-bodied figurine known as Löwenmensch. 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