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Anyone who has a cat will probably tell you cats think they’re gods, but in reality, many ancient cultures worshipped cat gods and goddesses all over the world. While ancient Egypt is best known for worshipping cats, cultures in Asia, Europe, and even the Americas have myths about cat gods and spirits. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about cat gods and goddesses from various continents and cultures.
Things You Should Know
- The ancient Egyptians worshiped numerous cat gods including Bastet, Mafdet, and Sekhmet.
- The Maya and Aztecs worshipped several gods that took the form of jaguars and represented night and nature.
- In Norse mythology, the goddess Freyja is considered a cat goddess because her chariot is pulled by cats.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
References
- ↑ https://www.worldhistory.org/Bastet/
- ↑ https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-sekhmet
- ↑ https://stmuscholars.org/mafdet-the-forgotten-goddess-of-old-kingdom-egypt/
- ↑ https://historycooperative.org/tefnut-goddess-of-moisture-and-rain/
- ↑ https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/glossary/cats#:~:text=Black%20cats%20in%20particular%20are,of%20liberty%20in%20ancient%20Rome
- ↑ https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cybele
- ↑ https://www.livius.org/articles/religion/cybele/
- ↑ https://web.pdx.edu/~scarmody/art342/exercise2/index.html#:~:text=The%20consort%20of%20Dionysus%20was,serpents%2C%20tigers%2C%20and%20donkeys
- ↑ https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=bubastis-bio-1
- ↑ https://godsandgoddesses.org/celtic/cerridwen/
- ↑ https://www.worldhistory.org/Freyja/
- ↑ https://www.godchecker.com/slavic-mythology/OVINNIK/
- ↑ https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/beginners-guide-asian-culture/hindu-art-culture/a/hindu-deity-durga-victorious-over-the-buffalo-demon
- ↑ https://digitalcommons.shawnee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=indicreligions
- ↑ https://www.maskmuseum.org/mask/bali-barong-ket/
- ↑ https://animaldreamboat.com/paws-of-good-fortune-embracing-the-magic-of-li-shou-the-chinese-mythological-feline/
- ↑ https://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln270/popular%20gods.htm
- ↑ https://dcmp.org/media/16392-monstrum-fire-cat-or-fire-cart-the-history-of-japan-s-kasha
- ↑ https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/nergal/
- ↑ https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/asherahasherim-bible
- ↑ https://www.worldhistory.org/article/415/the-mayan-pantheon-the-many-gods-of-the-maya/
- ↑ https://www.dcc.fc.up.pt/~lblopes/epigraphy/papers/chuwaaj03.pdf
- ↑ https://www.museolarco.org/en/exhibition/permanent-exhibition/masterpieces/the-journeys-of-ai-apaec/
- ↑ https://www.native-languages.org/water-panther.htm
- ↑ https://greatlakes.guide/ideas/meet-mishipeshu-the-underwater-panther-in-lake-superior
- ↑ https://www.azteccalendar.com/god/Tepeyollotl.html