I feel like it's a deity reaching out to me - can anyone help me. Privacy Policy. There have been mummified cats discovered at Bastets cult center Bubastis, though they havent exclusively been discovered in temples. Thumbnail:Photography by EgyptianStudio on Thinkstock. A space to share and talk about theistic paganism. Royalty, particularly pharaohs and their families, kept cats as pets. They sort of fence off the supernatural things that came along for the ride across the ocean but are unable to fully destroy them. One of the most famous offerings made to Bastet is the Gayer-Anderson cat, an embodiment of feline elegance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To learn more about the Otherworldly Oracles website Privacy Policy, visit our Privacy Policy page here. We create beautiful images of them. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Theres something about our feline friends that makes us as willing to respect their wishes as our ancestors were to respect the gods. Fun Fact: Mut means mother in Ancient Egyptian. One Scottish superstition states that if a cat walked away from fire, then a storm was coming. Mason-Dixon Line Cats were associated with the gods Mafdet, Banstet and Sekhmet, all of which had the head of a cat. On top of it all, Highlanders are built like Mishipeshu, too theyre a very muscular breed. They were also given lavish burials in pet cemeteries, buried with jewels, pottery, and their favorite things in life. This piece was originally published in 2015. A goddess of crossroads, magic, poison, and the undead, Hecate was also the daughter of the Titan Perses and the nymph Asteria, according to Hesiod. Family members would shave off their eyebrows to show their grief. Obviously everyone worships the sun and all, but why cats? At night, when Ra was resting, Bastet would morph into her cat form and protect her father from his greatest enemy, Apep the serpent. READ MORE: The Satraps of Ancient Persia: A Complete History. I would encourage everyone to research study and learn. It would just sit beside me as I looked up on how to do a certain spell. There was likely an increase in cat mummies because of the public need to feel secure in tumultuous times. Manjushri is a Buddhist deity whose name and qualities vary depending on the region. Cats in Egypt held special importance to the people, as they still do today in most cultures just think of how people react when they see a black cat on the street. Like Mafdet, the Savannah cat is very protective to the point where it can be aggressive around strangers. His cult is mentioned in the Bible. Its easy to see how cats would become associated with the unknown. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Well, more of an air of authority and disdain than a typical cat. To the ancient Greeks, Athena, Artemis and Circe were just a few goddesses with connections to cats. She was the goddess of war and would protect the pharaohs of Egypt as she led them into battle. If a cat washed its face, it was believed that it wasconjuring rain. Please become a Bronze, Silver or Gold Donor if you can. She's the goddess of perfume and ointment, which were very important for making mummies. Judika IllesEncyclopedia of Witchcraft. Royal cats were dressed in jewels and allowed to eat off of their human's plates, which some cat parents encourage to this day. Next day he was suddenly hospitality and remained in hospital for more than a month! Our ancestors saw them as either regal demi-gods to be worshipped and protected, or fierce monsters to be wary of. In some cultures, the spider is portrayed negatively. Just like witches, cats were believed to have the ability to control the weather or predict it. monitoring_string = "44e5bb901650ec61e9e0af1ff1bef5fe", Barong Ket is a panther- or lion-like leader. The Hindu pantheon began in ancient times and is still a part of Indian culture today. "The Blind God". Religion/Culture: Ancient Babylonian MythologyRealm: Destruction, war, and the god of deathModern Cat Breed: Bombay. Maahes (also Mahes, Mihos, Miysis, Mysis) is the son of the creator god Ptah or Ra, depending on who the chief god was and either Bastet or Sekhmet. Part of such reverence stems from the ancient Egyptians viewing cats (and other animals) as vessels for the gods. He opened a portal and was about to leave, but I stopped him asking for him to take me with him. The kasha is a yokai or a supernatural monster, spirit, or demon in Japanese folklore. The mummy would have been from between 332 BCE and 30 BCE. Bastet was later depicted as having the head of a domestic cat and lots of kittens. I love cats and have always felt a connection with felines. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Cass Xavier, "Cat Gods: 7 Feline Deities from Ancient Cultures", History Cooperative, May 5, 2020, https://historycooperative.org/cat-gods-feline-deities/. Bastet was believed to take the form of a cat on occasion, thus it mustve meant that cats were special in some way. Far from a good time in the Land of Reeds, the traitors would get beheaded by the goddess. Dawon came to represent the victories of her mistress. Possibly once held as sacred in Europe, theres evidence that may suggest feline worship by the pre-Celtic megalith cultures, such as the burial at the great chamber of Fourknocks. They dont take kindly to wrong-doers. This fear of witchcraft and the cats connection to witchcraft led to an estimated 50 million peoples death in the 14th century, or 60 percent of Europes entire population, The Craft, The Devil, Familiar Spirits, and Validation, "This makes me love jack-o-lanterns even more. It was often shown as a Ghatokbahini or a lion-tiger hybrid. JaneA is the webmaster and chief cat slave forPaws and Effect, an award-winning cat advice blog written by her cats, for cats and their people. The Roman goddesses Diana and Juno have close ties to big cats, as well. ANY & ALL opinions, advice, or information would be great. Circe, the Greek goddess of transformation and sorcery, has a prison of men whom shes turned into pigs and lions. Seeing spiders each day is just like - HeyI am here Do you wish to talk or connect. The practice of worshipping cat gods is also present in Japanese mythology, a practice known as Shintoism. As Shiva is the god of destruction, the link between Shiva and the predatory tiger is evident. Sekhmet (also spelled Sachmis, Sakhmet, Sekhet, and Sakhet) is widely considered Bastets twin. This may sound weird, but I'm a beginner to both Paganism and witchcraft. I wonder about the little waving cat you see at Chinese restaurants. She was usually depicted as a lioness, or as a woman with the head of a lion. All theyre missing to complete the picture are some horns and scales. Tezcatlipoca was the Aztec god of change, the sky, and ancestral inheritance. She's the goddess of perfume and ointment, which were very important for making mummies. There were many large size feline deities though. (Picture Credit: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images). In norse mythology there is Angrboda, Hel, Fenrir, Loki, Odin, Hati and Skol, Geri and Freki, All of which are, or are related to wolves. In India, Durga and Parvati are linked to cats and in ancient Israel Asherah or Qadesh. EDIT: bonus points to you if you get me something related to the mantis, my favorite bug. So here is my theory, the Ancients worshipped feline dieties because we were created by Cat beings that people now refer to as the Lyrans. Cats have long been considered extremely psychic, in-tune creatures and are known for their independence, secrecy, and elusiveness. I replied with a yes. Ancient Egypt Timeline: Predynastic Period Until the Persian Conquest. The goddess Mafdet (also Mefdet or Maftet) is revered as the goddess of physical protection. Just let him gothat guy doesnt matter anymorehe will get his due. . Here are a few feline deities that your cat could be related to! Cats were significant both socially and religiously. Itzpapalotl is called the Obsidian Butterfly, though she is often associated with bats and deer as well. He was beyond the understanding of both the other gods and mortals and so humans could stay secure in their faith while being able to attach some kind of explanation to otherwise indiscriminate violence or anguish. Though unusual, priests would conduct rituals that made the object an appropriate offering. Herodotus and Pausanias also wrote that Bastet and Artemis were one and the same. In fact, Bastets earliest depictions show her as a lioness; it isnt until later on that she gains a cats head. He looked down at me and replied, I will take u, but u have to be my queen. I wont do you anything, just trying to help you. and dunno, somehow I could easily take her afterwards and bring her out, without she trying to escape shrugs later I thought what happened there?. It doesn't have to be a deity either by the way, anything works. Despite their admiration, cats were also commonplace amongst funerary goods. Spiders in Druidry. I would appreciate if somebody could name a few gods/deities that are associated with wasps/hornets/spiders or tbh any insect. As the main cat goddess, Bastet embodied the duality of cats. The Smithsonian Institution describes linen wrappings in the shape of a kitten that holds no actual remains. I became friends with spiders Im not sure if this is because of my somewhat involvement with Lilith. He is a true god. The contemporary fear of black cats, like their associations with witches and Halloween, may be Celtic in origin, although some have traced the connection to the Greek goddess of witchcraft, Hecate, who was associated with cats. Please share them in the comments! Nergal was usually represented as a lion, one of the most ferocious cats known to humanity. Well, maybe there isnt much of a difference. The cat was held in high regard by many ancient civilizations, namely ancient Egypt. Another culture that also has a cat goddess is Hinduism an ancient religion practiced mainly in India. Domestic cats were charged with catching rodents, snakes, and other vermin. In the old Babylonian Empire, Nergal was a god of the sun who was also a lion. Theyre also very mischievous, as theyre especially bright and will get up to no good when youre not around. How old is the United States of America? The guy that Asmodeus grabbed in my dream was him. They spend most of their time napping and the rest of the time eating or playing. Thutmose, the eldest son of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye, kept a cat named Mit. Shed look like any other house cat, although shed probably have an air of authority and disdain. Hecate isnt the only goddess of magick associated with cats. Forseti, a god of justice and law. You may be thinking, Hecate is associated with dogs, but she is indeed also associated with cats. Likewise, the sisters embody Egypt itself. If theyre wild, then theyre also typically found on the hunt. Either way, ancient humans shaped some of their beliefs and behaviors around cats. Second son of Odin and Frigga. Later in Egyptian history (between 330 BCE and 30 BCE), cats were bred in special complexes for the sole purpose of becoming mummies. Xochiquetzal is also an Aztec butterfly goddess. For this reason, she was the goddess Egyptians turned to when they needed to cure a problem in their lives. King Asmodeus is associated with Spiders. Author Terry Pratchett said, In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.When you hear this phrase, do you automatically think of ancient Egyptian cat goddesses and cat gods? Whenever I study on the topics (read articles, practice sigil making, learn about myths, etc. Thats right: theres no house cat here. ago I could say Bastet (egyptian), goddess of cats, love, music, dancing and fertility who is a cat-woman and Freya (norse), goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, gold and magic who rides a chariot drawn by cats. Belial has sent them after me and Im a damn arachnophobe. Because cat goddesses and male cat gods are special deities, they should be treated with special care and attention. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. While it's probably for the best that your cat doesn't have wings or a creepy human head, they can still guard the entrance to your palace and keep bad spirits away. It was said that Mafdet paid the same respect to pharaohs, guarding the kings against harm. Probably. With Marduk out of the way on the opposite side of the city, Nergal rampaged through Babylon, indiscriminately leveling buildings and killing citizens. Shivas wife is Parvati, the goddess of beauty and love, whose mount is also a lion. Minuitmeow 2021-12-23. (Picture Credit: Bicho_raro/Getty Images). Bastet was usually seen carrying a sistrum an ancient instrument that was like a drum in her right hand and an aegis, a breastplate, in her left. Her popularity peaked during the Middle and New Kingdoms of ancient Egypt. And he dissapeared through the portal. Ohh! How old is the United States of America? []. The kasha revealed their true forms during funerals when theyd leap down from their perches to snatch corpses from coffins; its believed that a person whose body had been stolen would not be able to enter the afterlife. In folklore and mythology. With ferocity, loyalty, and a fabulous coat, of course, many deities would go on to adopt a feline form. Your house cat may not be able to carry you into battle these days, but you can't hold ten weapons -- so you're even. I'm talking everywhere, it's definitely not a coincidence. He was extremely pissed. Being naturally primarily nocturnal creaturesthat prowl around the night stealthily witheyes glowing, and singing to the moon, cats seem to have an otherworldly connection about them. For more information, please see our Ive never physically seen or heard Asmodeus, just through my dreams. If cats nowadays can do that, one can only imagine how fearless their ancestors were. Ancient Egyptians believed that Mut had a significant protective function besides her role in creation. They were not considered divine beings themselves as much as they were the vessels of the gods. The Greeks associated Artemis with the Egyptian goddess Bastet and this conflated goddess was named Ailuros. California Name Origin: Why Was California Named After A Black Queen? By the time of the New Kingdom, Mafdet oversaw a realm of Duat (the Afterlife) where the enemies of the pharaoh would go. One example is in the Voyage of Mel Din, where the hero comes upon a magical island inhabited only by a single cat. ), my cat comes into my room and cuddles on my bed with me. I had a friend who is now an asshole and tries to tell people that Asmodeus is evil, he is dark, he is not what I think he is. So could be Lilith or Asmodeus. Like Bastet, she rode with the sun god through the sky. More often than not, feline goddesses are the daughters of the sun god, Ra, and are called the Eye of the Sun. Donations are needed every month. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . It is no wonder that one of her forms is that of a mother cat. Hey! Probably not. (Picture Credit: DeAgostini/Getty Images). Two widely venerated Egyptian goddesses, Bastet and Sekhmet, are feline deities. Like the kasha, Chausies are big cats some can get as tall as eighteen inches and weigh as much as thirty pounds. but frankly not trying to write an essay here. 4 V0idK1tty 3 mo. I didnt ask for it But thats the justice that Asmodeus dispensed for continually hurting me and giving me pain and harassment. It's a bit of blur, I was something like 4 or 5 bit I kept doing that with spiders I encountered until my 10yo, calling them my friends, giving them names. Not necessarily a demon but Arachne is definitely a being to consider. They would offer food and drink at her altars, playing music and burning incense. Nocodeyv 2 yr. ago 3. I'm not sure if she had a literal association with spiders though. He was seen riding in a chariot drawn by panthers or cheetahs. But to understand how important they were to your average Egyptian, lets meet their cat gods. It has gotten worse over the years since I first saw him in my dream. Although the Egyptian cat gods are some of the most well-known, many other cultures celebrated our feline friends. The decline of catsexacerbated the Medieval Black Plague, which was in decline when cat populations were high and rose as cats were exterminated. Cats were connected with feminine deities. Freya is the Norse Goddess of lust, love and beauty. 2. If you have, then you probably already know, you cant quite own a cat. They can also jump as high as eight feet, which is about as close to being in the sky as any housecat will get. You live your life to the fullest I was tolerating all kinds of torment and hurt on a regular basis at the hands of someone I cant avoid. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I'm not picky. Though before cats became adored pets, they were viewed as the kin of Bastet, the ultimate Egyptian cat goddess. The cats medicine is considered to concern independence, psychic insight, wisdom of the night (and otherworlds), and deftness in grace., According to Man, Myth & Magic, an Italian legend tells of a cat that gave birth to her kittens under the manger in which Jesus was born. Many scholars agree that Sekhmet was the predecessor to Bastet, but as time went by, the ferocious warrior lioness became more of a home and motherly guardian. Bast was once a warrior goddess, too. In the days when rats could cause a societal collapse and when poisonous reptiles posed a serious threat, having a cat on hand was incredibly beneficial. This may explain why your cat is always watching you at night while you're sleeping, with their big, glowing eyes, like the night sun. E-mail me at [email protected] or [email protected] or if you have tiktok add me, @littlejess27. Following Alexanders death, the Macedonian general Ptolemy established the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty. Another myth says that humans were created from Ras semen. Mythical bugs created by gods, monsters based on bugs, stories about such creatures. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. But it wasnt just the Egyptians who revered our feline friends. Her physical, earthly form, is entirely feline. Moreover, despite not having a severe consequence on ancient Egyptian life during peacetime, Maahes would regularly be depicted as divinely regal in ancient Egyptian art. (Picture Credit: Murat nan/Getty Images). She is usually shown to be a beautiful woman wearing the double crown of Egypt, the pschent. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In all seriousness, no other face jumps out at you amongst the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses than that of a cat. littlewillownymph said: not a god, but related to spiders: deitiesdaily.tumblr.com. Any cat goddess would appreciate catnip as an offering. Libations were regularly given in Sekhmets honor, and a golden aegis was one of many objects attributed to her cult. The Mayans had several jaguar figures and deities in their myths. Has your cat ever stared up at the ceiling in a corner, with seemingly nothing there visible to the naked eye? For example, in nearby Babylon, there were many gods and goddesses who took on the shape and or characteristics of a cat. You know how it is. [] Who better to name your cat after than a goddess who famously loves felines? In Asia, there are many male cat gods because of the prevalence of large cats like the tiger and leopard. Earlier we mentioned how cute cats were. Bastets modern cousin would be the Serengeti cat Serengetis. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order She has violent tendencies, though most worshippers brush that aside in favor of her more nurturing aspects. She hails from ancient Egypt and was depicted as a black cat or as a woman with the head of a cat. Ai-Apaec, a god of the pre-Inca civilization known as the Mochica, was often depicted as an old man with a wrinkled face, long fangs and cat-like whiskers. READ MORE: Japanese Gods and Mythology: The Shinto Religion. Learn more about cat goddesses and male cat gods from various cultures below. The ancient Egyptians saw Mafdet as a swift-footed cheetah, though there are some depictions of the goddess as a mongoose instead. It is intricate, handsomely crafted, and just a good-lookin statuette. In Hinduism, especially in the Bengali folklore, there is a Goddess called Maa Shasthi. We feed them, spoil them, buy them toys and houses, and even clean their litter boxes. Are there any deities associated with cats? Or donate directly via Paypal TC Staff You may want to look into Arachnid Lilith. I love reading about all sorts of gods and deities from all cultures in my free time.. In some places, Dionysus was linked to the lion. Cats played a vital role in the survival of early men. Asherah was an ancient Semitic goddess who is even mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. I think he knows this. Consequently, these cat gods can also be defined as solar deities themselves. But as I began exploring world mythology, I found that theres a lot more to cats, deities and miracles than I first thought. Cybele, one of the most ancient Greek goddesses, rules over large cats like the lion and tiger. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order His wave welcomes good luck & waves is more customers. harpotho said: Maybe Arachne, the Greek woman who was turned into the first spider by Hera. And I had a dream when I was 5 that I was incased in a huge white thick spider web all the way to my neck. In addition to being independent and otherworldly, cats are sexual and cleanly animals. the Japanese Beckoning Cat. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/cat-gods-feline-deities/. We love Sekhmet. Only after you are familiar working with and channeling human energies or spirit guides should you attempt to reach deities. Nan, a goddess of joy and later, sorrow. When they get bored, they might start acting naughty to get your attention, or even just to entertain themselves. Do you think your cat is a descendant of feline gods? The concept that black cats are an evil omen is not necessarily a native European belief. Spirit animal is a mourning dove. Bes was a fierce protector of the people. Greek mythology tells of how the goddess Hecate assumed the form of a cat in order to escape the monster Typhon. In the New Kingdom, Bes appearance changed and he often wore leopard skin. Spider happens to be an animal associated with him. Patricia MonaghanThe Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. Login with username, password and session length Donate! Below youll find a list of Egypts famous leonine goddesses (and a god, too)! Spirit animal is an hoary bat. Hekate's animal horde is vast and diverse, from her beloved hounds to the witch's cat. These feisty cats are a good representation of the vindictive Babylonian god, although the extent of their destructiveness is usually limited to a room in your house rather than an entire city. There are three different ways you can cite this article. We see the cat appearing in dozens of European folk tales, being particularly linked to witches as their familiars.