Alice White
Cats in History: the Secrets of the Ages
The fact that we owe the appearance of cats to Ancient Egypt is almost no secret to anyone. It is this country that is officially considered the birthplace of these wonderful animals, and it was she who at one time was famous for the cult of cats, some forms of which have survived to this day. However, cats in history managed to prove themselves beyond the Egyptian borders, and in a short time spread throughout the world.
This spread was made possible by the Phoenicians. They were the first to take cats on sea trips, and it was thanks to them that the whole world learned about domestic cats. The ancient Greeks were especially grateful: cats (which were smuggled into Greece!) Helped them so well in the fight against rodents that it was the freedom-loving cat that the Greeks later made a symbol of the famous uprising of Spartacus. Well, from Greece, cats came to Georgia, and then to the entire European market.
The ancient Romans, in particular, did a great service to Britain by bringing cats to the island, which nowadays unanimously adores these animals. The oldest remains of a domestic cat found in Britain date from the 4th century BC, and the first written records of these animals appeared in 936. Since then, cats have acquired a special significance in history: in South Wales, a law was passed that presupposed the protection of animals, and it was allowed to keep them in various premises, including monasteries.
At the same time, cats also found themselves in the New World: the first images of them, found in Peru, dating back to 400-1000 AD, and then cats were not only drawn but also used as a motive for creating jewelry. True, it is still not known for certain how exactly they ended up in this part of the world.
Cats came to Russia in the 7-6th century. BC, being supposedly imported by merchants and warriors. These animals were held in high esteem by the Scythians, and in the 10-13th centuries AD they generally acquired special value: they were actively defended by the church, and it was very expensive to get a cat.
History of Cats in the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages, on the one hand, was a real expanse for these animals, because it was during these times that they spread widely throughout the world, but on the other hand, this did not bring happiness to cats. Their wide distribution automatically deprived them of their privileged position, and these animals even began to be considered the personification of evil, in connection with which the history of cats in the Middle Ages became a real tragedy for them. The church was especially fiercely opposed to these animals, so they were actively drowned, killed, burned at bonfires, and tortured.
Even England, which adored cats before, in 1558 alone, on the day of the coronation of Elizabeth I, burned several sacks of unfortunate animals. In the 17th century, the persecution of cats began in America, which was also due to the “witch hunt”, and people who loved cats had a very hard time: they had to choose – to abandon the cat and undergo an invasion of rodents or keep the animal, but be accused of ties with the devil.
Rebirth: Cat Rescue
The brutal era of the Middle Ages was replaced by the Renaissance, and cats again became loved. It was during these years that animals return to their homes again, books and pictures are written about them, and psychologists begin to study their habits. In the 18th century, the pursuit of cats was finally stopped, and it was then that the famous scientist Harrison Wake initiated the holding of cat exhibitions, which especially welcomed new breeds and animals with unique characteristics.
Later, cats spread around the world so much that today they are in every fourth family, and in total there are 36 breeds and over 40 million domestic cats on the planet, most of which are truly adored by their owners. Considering this, it is not at all surprising that the world day of cats was invented in the world, the history of which, however, is not too long yet, however, these animals continue to be incredibly loved and popular, so we can already say that the day of gratitude and love to them has become a great tradition for many.
