"Cat slave", "cloud sucking cat" is the most common vocabulary in the Internet era. It seems that the "cats" all have a magical power that can stop the busy footsteps and calm the anxious heart.
Humans have never hidden their love for cats. From the ancient totem thousands of years ago to the cat pet shops in the streets today, people's enthusiasm for cats has far exceeded the category of "pets" and is striding towards an almost crazy situation.
So, what is the charm of cats that can attract humans to flock to it, and even willingly bury their heads in the "shoveler"?
This also starts with the "cat worship" of ancient times.
<h3 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" >01 cats and gods</h3>
In western culture alone, cats are inseparable from the role of gods.
In ancient Egypt, cats were thought to be the embodiment of the goddess Bastet.
She was originally a lioness warrior worshipped by the ancient Egyptians and the embodiment of the sun god, and later artificially added some "gentle" elements in the history of change.
Later, the goddess Buster became the daughter of the sun god Ra and the goddess Isis. To enrich her figure, the Egyptians also specially sought out for her a husband who symbolized the "Creator" [Ptah], and the future son [Maahes], who would become the god of war and the god of lions.
The meaning of the goddess Buster has also changed - she has gradually changed from the original fierce female warrior image to the embodiment of "childbirth" and "pregnancy", and she is also the protector against infectious diseases and evil spirits.
Some scholars believe that this change is directly related to the rise of cat worship in Egypt. It is the super fertility and self-healing power of cats that give this goddess a new connotation.
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus also exposed this phenomenon of worship in his writings, writing:
The killing of cats is forbidden throughout Egyptian society. When a domestic cat dies, the owners must shave their eyebrows and perform a mourning ceremony. They even bring cat carcasses to the holy city of Bubastis, where they will embalm it and bury it in sacred tombs.
Herodotus was shocked by this cult, because in ancient Greek society, the enthusiasm for cats was far less high than that of the Egyptians.
This can be seen in the vocabulary of "cat" itself. For example, the word "cat" commonly used in ancient Greek words is "ailouros", which means "something with a tail waving". The harsh words were filled with a hint of contempt.
In addition, there is little mention of cats in ancient Greek literature. On a few occasions, as Aristotle mentioned in The History of Animals: "Female cats are lustful by nature." ”
This further highlights the fact that the status of the "cat" is relatively humble in Greek society.
And even the most conscientious job of "taking the rat", the ancient Greeks and Romans chose the weasel as the "rat exterminator", thus ignoring the survival skills that cats are most proud of.
It seems that the days of the cat being mythologized are coming to an end.
But, is that really the case?
"Greater Greece"
Not. History will develop, and human consciousness will change. No, in the middle of the 5th century BC, the two cities [Calabria Reggio] and [Tarandeau] under the Great Greek concept took the lead in minting a silver coin with the cover of a city leader and a pet cat.
The Greeks also gradually associated the mythical goddess of the hunt ,Diana—with the Egyptian Buster—the cat element was rapidly incorporated into Greek mythology.
In the metamorphosis of the poet Odway, when the gods fled to Egypt and took animal form, the goddess Diana eventually turned into a cat. Diana's allegory has gradually shifted from the original martial spirit to the concept of "childbirth" and "pregnancy".
This means that cats have completely gained a foothold in Greek society.
Later, the social value of cats was also developed - it eventually replaced ferrets as the first choice for controlling rat infestations. Because people find cats more suitable for free range in the house and are more enthusiastic about catching rats.
Until the Middle Ages, the intersection of the goddess Diana and the cat was all grafted onto the Virgin Mary — according to Italian folklore, on the night Mary gave birth to Jesus, a cat in Bethlehem gave birth to a kitten.
Since then, cats have often appeared in the icons of the Angelic Annunciation and the Holy Family.
Coincidentally, in several other ancient European religions, cats still possess supreme souls—they are omniscient, taciturn, and hardly influenced by humans.
For example, in Jewish legend, the first cat in history was Adam's pet, driving away rats for a human house. It used to be paired with a dog, but the latter broke the oath between them, which led to a dispute between the cat and the dog's offspring.
In Norse mythology, the mount of the goddess of love and beauty and fertility, Freya, is a "cat cart", a chariot dragged by a cat.
In addition, Muhammad was also very fond of cats. He has a cat named "Muezza". In some circulating stories, "Muhammad would rather give up his cloak than disturb the cat sleeping on it".
And one of Muhammad's companions was called Abu Hurayrah (the "father of kittens"), which also symbolized his love for cats.
Later, during the "Great Discovery" period, sailors used to keep domestic cats on ships to catch rodents. The footprints of cats have also traveled all over the world and become a household name star pet.
<h3 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" >02 Black Cat and Magic</h3>
Cats, especially black cats, occupy a very important place in European culture.
Folklore surrounding black cats in various regions once filled people's ears.
In Scotland, it is believed that if you bump into a strange black cat at home, it means that family fortunes will prosper. Because in Celtic mythology, fairies are often shown as "black cats".
But in England and much of Western Europe, black cats often herald doom, especially when they walk the path in front of them, which is considered a sign of misfortune and death. In Germany, some even think that the road that black cats cross from right to left can no longer be walked.
However, in Western culture, the black cat is more often described as the animal form of the witch in the human world, and can enhance the witch's mana and skills after transformation.
The 15th and 16th centuries coincided with the worst period of witch persecution (see Mystery, Madness, Cruelty 丨 Detailed Explanation of the Most Terrifying Religious Professions of the Middle Ages: Witch Hunters"), and black cats were seen as the embodiment of the demon Satan, so burning black cats became an "unshirkable" duty and obligation.
In France, burning cats alive became a means of entertainment and a celebratory ritual. According to the Polish historian Norman Davies,
"The people who gathered together, in the process of cheering, howled at the cats full of pain, and they sang and baked until the carcasses carbonized".
This unjust persecution was also recognized above the court.
In 1648, for example, Louis XIV, wearing a crown of roses on his head and holding a bouquet of roses in his hand, danced around a campfire full of cat wreckage, and then attended the feast of the evening in the town hall.
In Metz, summer bonfires ignite the pomp and circumstance on the Corniche, and a dozen black cats in wicker cages are burned alive for human amusement.
However, some areas showed admiration for the "supernatural power" of black cats. Especially those towns that depend on fishing for their survival.
For example, some areas along the Mediterranean coast are very fond of black cats, and sailors believe that "black cats" will bring unexpected good luck to ships. Sometimes, fishermen's wives also leave black cats at home, hoping they can use their magic to protect their husbands at sea.
It has to be said that cats, as the most beloved companions of human beings, have a pivotal position in the entire long river of history. Although black cats have suffered injustice for a period of time, this does not hinder the pursuit and yearning of human cats.
In contrast, at present, the "Larry" at No. 10 Downing Street, the "GuanFu Meow" of the Guanfu Museum, and the ubiquitous "Zhao Cai Cat" in major commercial gathering places, the meaning and image of the cat have also been raised and sublimated.
It seems that the story of humans and cats continues, and the excitement is far from here.
As for what happens next, let history write it.