The Power of the Egyptian Feline
"Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the gods, and the judge of worlds, and the president of the sovereign chiefs and the governor of the holy Circle; thou art indeed the Great Cat." (Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes)
Ancient Worship
Originating around 2000 B.C.E. the ancient Egyptians began their worship of the cat. It's not clear how the cat was introduced to Egypt. It could have been the Persians with their domestic cats or a wild African cat descendant, either way, the cat became a symbol of Egyptian power, fertility, and beauty.
Cats grew in prominence, were protected by the law and worshipped as goddesses. Egyptians created statues of them, adorned with gold and jewelry. They praised numerous god's with cat-like bodies or characteristics. They even mummified their dead cats: archaeologists have found cat cemeteries along the Nile, with over 300,000 cat mummies.
Cats grew in prominence, were protected by the law and worshipped as goddesses. Egyptians created statues of them, adorned with gold and jewelry. They praised numerous god's with cat-like bodies or characteristics. They even mummified their dead cats: archaeologists have found cat cemeteries along the Nile, with over 300,000 cat mummies.
“Sleep, sleep cat of the night,
with episcopal ceremony
and your stone-carved moustache.
Take care of all our dreams;
control the obscurity
of our slumbering prowess
with your relentless heart
and the great ruff of your tail.”
- excerpt from "Cat's Dream"
with episcopal ceremony
and your stone-carved moustache.
Take care of all our dreams;
control the obscurity
of our slumbering prowess
with your relentless heart
and the great ruff of your tail.”
- excerpt from "Cat's Dream"
Embodiment of the Cat
Cleopatra was the first of the Macedonian Ptolemy rulers to adopt the Egyptian culture. She learned the practices and ways of the people from her servants. She appeared to have completely given herself to Egypt, legitimizing her claim as “pharaoh”. Unfortunately, she would be the last pharaoh Egypt would ever have. However, during her time as ruler, nobody can deny the grip she held over her kingdom. She was like a mother cat, bringing her children closer to her for protection while lashing out with deadly claws against those who threatened her. Just like the cat, her people worshipped her for her beauty, wit, charm, and ambitious leadership. She wanted to expand her kingdom over the world, with the help of Caesar and Antony. She wanted to fullfill her role as the new Isis, goddess of the ideal mother and wife, as well as the patroness of nature and magic. She was the friend of her people and the queen of her land.
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Cleopatra is like Neruda's sleeping cat. An Egyptian force always on the verge of spilling over into uncontrollable and unstoppable power and beauty. A figure there to “control the obscurity of our slumbering prowess”, a ruler to take control of Egypt's potential and use her powers to her advantage. Egyptians had no idea just how far Cleopatra would take them. She used her charm to lure these Roman men into her den, make them fall in love with her, and then take what she needed from them. Whether it be money, militia, children, or love, she always seem to have procured what she desired.. If it hadn't have been for a series of unfortunate events leading to her suicide, Cleopatra most likely would have led Egypt into the dominion of world power. Her “relentless heart” never stopped fighting for Egypt, protecting her children, or pursuing her kingdom's success.
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