Famous Cat Myths and Folklore Stories
Dear Diary,
Cats have played a vital part in our lives for centuries.
They were adored by our great, great, great, great, great … ancestors as much as we love them today.
No wonder myths and stories are abundant around them.
I’m pretty sure you can think of at least one on top of your mind.
Their famous 9 lives. Or the sculptures worshipped in Ancient Egypt. Or maybe the superstition about black cats crossing the streets.
I do not only love cats, but I’m also a big history nerd.
So here comes a short story of cats through history.
Cat Worship In Ancient Egypt
Mau is the Egyptian word for cat. Spot on I’d say.
Cats were the absolute favourites of the Pharaos. Treated like kings and queens with only the best food and often dressed in gold.
Cats are also featured prominently in ancient Egyptian art. You’ll see them in everyday paintings, as sculptures and as hieroglyphics.
Their initial purpose as predators quickly changed to a symbol of divinity and protection.
One such famous cat is Bastet. A feline goddess, represented as a woman with a cat’s head.
Bastet was a fearsome and protective deity for women and children, bringing good health and fertility.
Cats also hold an important role in the Egyptian’s afterlife. Mummified cats were often found in tombs alongside humans. The idea was that humans then could inhabit their bodies.
The Cat In The Greek Mythology
You might have come across Hecate.
She’s often depicted as the triple Greek goddess. Her three bodies standing back to back. She can be found at crossroads or city gates, where she watches over from all sides.
Hecate stands for magic, sorcery, spells and the moon. And guess what, she had a pet as well. A cat.
The Witch Companion
Hecate wasn’t the only witch with a cat. Until today cats are still very popular witch companions.
We see them joining forces in movies, such as Sabrina and Salem or Thackery Binx in Disney’s Hocus Pocus.
Bibi Blocksberg and her cat Sylvester immediately come to my mind. One of my absolute favourite cartoon characters as a kid. Hands up if you remember her!
Black Cats For Bad Luck
Bad luck is probably one of the most common associations with black cats.
The church has linked cats to Satan as early as the 13th century. Supposedly, they’re his incarnation. Cats were also connected to witchcraft and therefore seen as a threat to Christianity.
Plus, witches can turn into their familiars and do all sorts of evil things. The devil in disguise so to speak. Hence why you shouldn’t cross their path.
To make matters worse, cats were also blamed for spreading the Bubonic plague in the Middle Ages. A bit of tragic irony here, as their killing made things worse. After all, they were the ones that controlled the rodent population. Well, lesson learnt, I hope.
Why the focus on black cats? Well, that will remain a mystery.
On a positive note, in countries such as Scotland and Japan, cats are actually good luck! A black cat on your doorstep means prosperity.
I’ve already mentioned the Scottish Halloween folklore around the black Cat-sith in another blog post. Make sure to check it out.
Only one question remains: black cat - good or bad luck?
Easy one for me.
All cats no matter what colour are good luck! How can you not love them?