August
05
/ 2023
While perusing Herodotus’s captivating Histories, which explore the cultures of the ancient world, you may come across a curious mourning ritual. While discussing the veneration of animals by the ancient Egyptians, the Greek historian Herodotus claimed that when a cat died, all members of that household would shave off their eyebrows as a visible sign of respect and grief. But this wasn’t just a sign that Egyptians really liked their pets. Within their worldview, animals were seen as sacred, playing an important role in day-to-day life and religious worship. Many were associated with particular gods with whom they shared characteristics. Cats were particularly popular. Even the English word “cat” is derived from the North African term quattah. From statues to
