The enigma of the Egyptian cat: Myth, mystery and meaning

The silhouette of a cat, poised and serene, has long been emblematic of ancient Egypt’s mystique. From gilded amulets to finely sculpted statuettes, cats permeate our collective imagination as cherished companions and sacred creatures in one of history’s most fascinating civilizations. Yet, as Dr. Campbell Price, leading Egyptologist and Curator of Egypt and Sudan at Manchester Museum, reveals, this enduring narrative oversimplifies a far more intricate cultural tapestry.

“People assume that the ancient Egyptians were massive cat lovers,” Campbell begins, “Surprise. They weren’t.”

This revelation invites us to reconsider the prevalent mythos: that Egyptians were cat lovers akin to today’s enthusiasts. Instead, Campbell guides us through a nuanced history, one where cats functioned as powerful religious symbols, conduits to the divine, and, paradoxically, as ritual sacrifices designed to secure spiritual protection or favour.

“I can bet my bottom dollar that most ancient Egyptians didn’t have pets as we understand them today,” adds Campbell. The idea of a pampered pooch – or in this case, pussy cat – is essentially a modern, western concept.”

Sacred symbols and sacred sacrifices

Ancient Egypt’s complex religious framework often deployed animals as physical manifestations of divine power. This meant almost any animal might be considered a God’s avatar and be subject to the ritual of mummification.

Cats were closely associated with a spectrum of significant feline deities in ancient Egyptian religion: Bastet, the nurturing protector of home and fertility, Sekhmet, the fierce lioness goddess of war and healing and Mafdet, the earliest feline goddess, linked to justice and protection from venomous creatures. 

The collections cared for by the Museum showcase a range of representations of key feline goddesses crafted in bronze, faience and other materials, highlighting the multifaceted symbolic importance of cats in Egyptian culture.