Sure, cats are cute, but theyre more than just pretty faces. They may be a derivation of an ancient cat goddess like Freya. Household gods were common in ancient times, and Egypt had its own Bes. The Celtic deities are known from a variety of sources such as written Celtic mythology, ancient places of worship, statues, engravings, religious objects, as well as place and personal names. Do you think your cat is a descendant of feline gods? His wave welcomes good luck & waves is more customers. Itzpapalotl is called the Obsidian Butterfly, though she is often associated with bats and deer as well. Realm: Goddess of war Modern Cat Breed: Abyssinian Sekhmet is one of the lesser-known Egyptian cat goddesses, especially compared to the goddess Bastet. When they get bored, they might start acting naughty to get your attention, or even just to entertain themselves. The goddess Mafdet (also Mefdet or Maftet) is revered as the goddess of physical protection. Nan, a goddess of joy and later, sorrow. Nowadays, its really not much different we dont worship or fear them anymore, but we do arrange our lives around them. Judika IllesEncyclopedia of Witchcraft. The decline of catsexacerbated the Medieval Black Plague, which was in decline when cat populations were high and rose as cats were exterminated. (Picture Credit: Panteleimon/Getty Images). It doesn't have to be a deity either by the way, anything works. In the Queen of the Night Relief, some scholars say the goddess is Erishkegal while others claim it is Lilith. The conquest of Alexander the Great and the wars that followed his death was a period of unrest. In all, while the jackal-headed Anubis was celebrated as the messenger and attendant of the gods, Mafdet was the guard and executioner. It is always interesting to see how people across the globe can worship deities so similar to one another, however does no one else find it bizarre how mesoamerican societies worshiped and included cats in all sorts of rituals, despite being in the new world and having no contact with the old world yet? Have you ever owned a cat as a pet? Because he has hurt me emotionally and threatened me. My friend keeps seeing spiders and feels its a sign. How old is the United States of America? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Spiders are used by witches as familiars because of their ability to spin and weave and this assists the witch in the casting of spells. Called the Lion Prince by the devout, Maahes was believed to have fought Apep beside Ra. The knowledge we have can be found everywhere. We stand at their beck and call. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. To name a few: Arwan, the Baba Yaga, the Callicach, Cerridwen, Demeter, Dionysus, Inari, Kali-ma, Lillith, Osiris, Pluto, or Thoth. Just let him gothat guy doesnt matter anymorehe will get his due. Spiders Deities weren't common in mythology but were very important among the civilizations that embraced them. The Ptolemaic dynasty saw a rise of Greek polytheism and the hero cult of Alexander the Great. She stepped up as the fierce protector when Bastet took maternity leave and ruled with an iron fistor claw. However, her role was to create fire of Ras eye (the sun) as well as to destroy all of his enemies. Sometimes they have a bull's body, instead, but we cat lovers prefer the feline form. Here is a list of six Cat Gods & Cat Goddesses From Ancient Cultures. that might be UPG but I've heard it pretty often. Bastet was believed to take the form of a cat on occasion, thus it mustve meant that cats were special in some way. Bastets modern cousin would be the Serengeti cat Serengetis. I didnt ask for it But thats the justice that Asmodeus dispensed for continually hurting me and giving me pain and harassment. Just as cats have an affiliation with the sun, they also have an affiliation with the finer things in life. Get tips and exclusive deals. We feed them, spoil them, buy them toys and houses, and even clean their litter boxes. They are partners or they are not. In general, the cats form a less prominent role in this pantheon, but the deities coming from the subcontinent were powerful entities that had a close connection to humanity. Thanks !! Later in Egyptian history (between 330 BCE and 30 BCE), cats were bred in special complexes for the sole purpose of becoming mummies. Our next Egyptian cat goddess, Mafdet, whose name means the runner, would rip out the hearts of wrongdoers and deliver them to the pharaohs feet. Whenever I study on the topics (read articles, practice sigil making, learn about myths, etc. EDIT: bonus points to you if you get me something related to the mantis, my favorite bug. Or not. Consequently, these cat gods can also be defined as solar deities themselves. Also as a side note I would like to point out that cats served a very important function in ancient societies and being a preventive measure against disease. Actually his Lord of the Lust image has gotten so large with the public that people associate him majority of the time with lust. Additionally, Maahes affinity for war and devouring captives has caused historians to draw parallels between him and the Nubian deity, Apedemak. Liked it? And he dissapeared through the portal. I had forgotten everything about it, but I recall that I considered it "important" without knowing where it came from. In Asia, there are many male cat gods because of the prevalence of large cats like the tiger and leopard. She's the goddess of perfume and ointment, which were very important for making mummies. There's also the Egyptian goddess Neith, associated with weaving. Abyssinians are a modern cat breed that looks a lot like little lions, mimicking Sekhmets earthly appearance. Mut is a part of the Theban Triad, joined with her husband, Amun-Ra, and their son, the lunar god Khonsu. There, he found the god-king of the city, Marduk, who would have known it was him if not for the disguise and driven him (and his destructive nature) out of the city. Together with Tawa, the sun god, she creates the first living beings. Her gradual development into a woman with a feline head came once Mut melded with the aforementioned cat goddesses. 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. It isnt just a coincidence, either. His cult is mentioned in the Bible. 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. Circe, the Greek goddess of transformation and sorcery, has a prison of men whom shes turned into pigs and lions. It is no wonder that one of her forms is that of a mother cat. I feel that Asmodeus and Lucifer and Satan are punishing him. He was largely worshipped in Bubastis and Taremu, the centers of Bastet and Sekhmet respectively. As the main cat goddess, Bastet embodied the duality of cats. 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. Likewise, the sisters embody Egypt itself. If you have the space and desire, adopting a cat from the shelter is the highest form of flattery to the cat goddesses and male cat gods. He was said to have evolved from one of the ancient cat gods and to be able to assume the form of a tomcat. 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. Dont make any sudden moves now! Many dieties at one time are connected to cats. Though it is unknown if Apedemak was always a cat god, Maahes certainly was. 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. Whenever I study on the topics (read articles, practice sigil making, learn about myths, etc. The cat was also associated with Diana. Ovid shares thatwhen Princess Alcmene was pregnant with Hercules by Zeus, her servant Galinthias played a trick on Hera to ensure that Alcmene would successfully give birth without Hera thwarting it. Second son of Odin and Frigga. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order It was a morbid and, according to evidence, a seemingly widespread practice. Here's a list of many of her historical animal companions with several thoroughly modern ones, along with lots of ways of including t. Join Covina: A Soul School at The Crossroads of Modern Life and The Deeper World . Durga, the feminine representation of the positive divine energy in the universe, rides a lion into battle. He was seen riding in a chariot drawn by panthers or cheetahs. Read more about ancient cat goddesses and gods here. There were many large size feline deities though. Cats arent necessary for life (depending on who you ask) but they are nurturing. It was a huge huntsman spider, about the size of my palm. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order Researchers believe that the tomb was exclusively used to bury cats and may have been one of the many pet cemeteries of the ancient world. The Greeks saw the Egyptian cat goddess Bast alive in their Greek goddess of the forest Artemis. The tiger may have once been Manjushris ally or mount. And the name that resounds is Asmodeus. This overlap blurs the line a bit when attempting to separate social exaltation from religious veneration. Cats are traditionally Hungarian witches alter egos, their doubles. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! The reason being that like angels and demons, deities are incredibly powerful, devoid of human traits and emotions. Spirit animal is a mourning dove. With ferocity, loyalty, and a fabulous coat, of course, many deities would go on to adopt a feline form. One of the most famous offerings made to Bastet is the Gayer-Anderson cat, an embodiment of feline elegance. Not to mention, some are also venomous. The practice of worshipping cat gods is also present in Japanese mythology, a practice known as Shintoism. I feel like there's something more going on. California Name Origin: Why Was California Named After A Black Queen? Cats were often linked with the otherworld in Celtic lore. Her physical, earthly form, is entirely feline. ANY & ALL opinions, advice, or information would be great. One example is in the Voyage of Mel Din, where the hero comes upon a magical island inhabited only by a single cat. The Different Types of Pagan Deities. Bastet (alternatively Bast) went from being a ferocious lioness to a domestic cat with several kittens in tow. One wouldnt have to search hard to find an archaic wall painting that depicts a house cat snuggled up to its favorite person. Id love to write another post about big cats and spiritual traditions if youre interested, because the subject of jaguars, tigers, leopards and other large felids in folk traditions, religious beliefs and creation stories is definitely worth a read. Also yes I could point this simple fact out in Egyptian, Babylonian,native American, Celtic and Asian spirituality.