While it is unknown why there was an emergence of cat breeding centers and empty feline mummies, one can speculate. the Egyptian goddess Bastet]. He was not the only ancient writer to write that Artemis and Bastet were the same goddess. And now the guy is cursed with all kinds of bad things happening to him. 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. One of the dreams he had the feet of a spider and claws of a mantas or crab, he moved extremely fast and agile. Cats were also considered sacred to Hathor, Kybele and Lilith. Deities That are Associated with Crows Morrigan/Badb Morrigan on her throne - by mattforsyth Morrigan has a triune identity. Without member support, we can't afford the server. Animals - Witchcraft Terms and Tools - Witchcraft 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. Your cute little kitty prances around the house with an air of superiority, but thats probably just because cat-liness is next to godliness. Archived post. Bombay cats are a more aggressive breed, which makes them a good match for Nergal. Privacy Policy. No matter which deity your cat may have descended from, your kitty certainly deserves your respect, adoration, and warm cuddles. 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. If they hadnt, she would have destroyed humanity. She stepped up as the fierce protector when Bastet took maternity leave and ruled with an iron fistor claw. The arts and sciences flourished; the Library of Alexandria was built. For example, cats are nurturing, so Bastet and Mut are nurturing; cats are protective, so Sekhmet and Mafdet are protective; cats have a penchant for brutality, so Sekhmet, Mafdet, and Maahes have cruel streaks. That may seem like a dumb question, as I know that there are some, but I was hoping to also learn about new deities. Farmers left offerings for the cats in order to ensure a good harvest. Mafdet was known to accompany the gods, particularly Ra, and fend off poisonous serpents and scorpions. Greek mythology tells of how the goddess Hecate assumed the form of a cat in order to escape the monster Typhon. I feel close to Asmodeus and Belial. READ MORE: Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World. Second son of Odin and Frigga. The tiger may have once been Manjushris ally or mount. I am interested in finding my goddesses, gods or both. Were there any gods or goddesses that were worshiped as feline creatures? There was likely an increase in cat mummies because of the public need to feel secure in tumultuous times. Furthermore, like the sun, cat gods also have a dual nature. The cult center of Bastet was Bubastis in the Nile Delta. Try and connect to him Meditate on himHe is very warm hearted. In a way, the general habits and behaviors of these early cats were shared with those of feline deities. I didnt ask for it But thats the justice that Asmodeus dispensed for continually hurting me and giving me pain and harassment. Sometimes our cats behaviors can be beyond our understanding too. From the cat god Li Shou of the ancient Chinese pantheon to the witch goddess Hecate of ancient Greece, there are plenty of other cat gods in other cultures. Following Alexanders death, the Macedonian general Ptolemy established the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty. Either way, ancient humans shaped some of their beliefs and behaviors around cats. pagan deities associated with cats. The respect and affection ancient Egyptians had for cats were well-known even back in their heyday. The purpose of r/mythology is to further an appreciation for mythology and other types of folklore by providing a platform for creative and scholarly discussion. 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. He also personifies the number seven, as well as having connections to fire and war. The Hopi (at least I think it was them) had Grandmother Spider, though spiders aren't actually insects. In Aradia or Gospel of the Witches, Diana (as Queen of the Witches) shape-shifts into a cat to sleep with Lucifer and thus becomes pregnant with Aradia. Spiders as Spiritual Guides | Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids Probably. The Different Types of Pagan Deities. Wildlife was sacred to our ancestors. My friend keeps seeing spiders and feels its a sign. Thus, black cats were considered omens of death, witchcraft, and the underworld due to their associations with Hecate. Also, having a cat purr when you pet it is enough to just be ready to dedicate your life to it forever. How old is the United States of America? She is the mother of cats and babies. On top of it all, Highlanders are built like Mishipeshu, too theyre a very muscular breed. Do you think of any other cultures when it comes to cat goddesses, cat gods and worshipping cats? Weve got to debunk the age-old belief that ancient Egyptians worshipped cats. Archived post. They would offer food and drink at her altars, playing music and burning incense. One example is in the Voyage of Mel Din, where the hero comes upon a magical island inhabited only by a single cat. It isnow believed that it was the rat populations that carried the plague bacteria within their fleas where the bacteria could multiply. Its thought that Nergal might have served as an explanation to people as to why they still experienced seemingly senseless suffering if they were presided over by otherwise benevolent gods. In Egyptian art, many cat gods are also shown to have sun disks above their heads. Obviously everyone worships the sun and all, but why cats? Read more about ancient cat goddesses and gods here. In some eastern cultures the spider is seen as a trickster. Royal cats were dressed in jewels and allowed to eat off of their human's plates, which some cat parents encourage to this day. Like the kasha, Chausies are big cats some can get as tall as eighteen inches and weigh as much as thirty pounds. 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. Do you think your cat is a descendant of feline gods? Circe, the Greek goddess of transformation and sorcery, has a prison of men whom shes turned into pigs and lions. Her cult center was at the ancient city of Bubastis. She was also known as Qadesh, depending on time and region, and is sometimes depicted standing on the back of a lion. One is the Egyptian God Ra. Hecate's name (Greek: Hekate, Latin: Hecate) means far-reaching one, and hints at this goddess's wide influence over a . Maahes is looking a little hungry and Mafdet is filing her nails; the last time she did that it took us a week to clean to floors. Another says humans were created by the tears Ra shed when his Eye, Tefnut (Lion Goddess of moisture and rain) left and traveled far away.bRas children were also felines at on time. Dawon serves as Parvatis steed in battle, and it attacks enemies with its claws and fangs. Whenever I study on the topics (read articles, practice sigil making, learn about myths, etc. For someone who had an appetite for man flesh, no one would suspect it looking at a statue of him. Every sixth day after the full or new moon is known as Shasthi after her name. One of the most famous offerings made to Bastet is the Gayer-Anderson cat, an embodiment of feline elegance. Bastet was believed to take the form of a cat on occasion, thus it mustve meant that cats were special in some way. Ohh! I gave up one morning and just cried my heart out in front of Asmodeuss sigil. 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. It would also explain why there are so many tomb paintings of cats beingwell, cats. There's also the Egyptian goddess Neith, associated with weaving. Ive had one chase me around my aunts van one time. It was a morbid and, according to evidence, a seemingly widespread practice. She protected women, children and cats. Youve likely seen images of her in her most common form, with the head of a cat and the body of a woman. I love cats and have always felt a connection with felines. Liked it? There's also Anansi, but you probably want to talk to a . The story of his battle is still depicted in traditional dance, which you are welcome to act out with your own cat, so long as you don't mind playing the part of a monkey. In the old Babylonian Empire, Nergal was a god of the sun who was also a lion. Highlander Shorthairs are actually descendants of lynxes, which makes them a solid pick to be Michipeshus cousin. King Asmodeus is associated with Spiders. A woman having a close connection with a cat was seen as unnatural and enough evidence for an accusation of witchcraft and thus death. I can relate to this. Occasionally people are able to wander into the "quarantined" area and get stuck (and eaten). Mommy? Known for rampaging and killing without regret or remorse, Nergal according to one myth was feeling stagnant and bored one day, and so decided to disguise himself and go to the city of Babylon. Interesting fact: statues were carved in such a way as to make them look like they were standing when viewed from the front and walking when viewed from the side. So yall my only hope lol. Archaeologists identify 3,200-year-old temple mural of spider god in Freyja is definitely associated with cats 4 marywashere_ 3 mo. Privacy Policy. Ceridwen, the Welsh goddess of wisdom and mother of the famous bard Taliesin, was attended by white cats who carried out her orders on Earth. Her name, when written, was used for "spider" and she was even said to weave a spider web around herself. According to Hindu mythology, Dawon -- also known as Gdon-- is a ferocious tigress given to the goddess Durga for her prowess in combat. Your email address will not be published. Just kidding, its nothing to worry about thats just the cat gods. The Different Types of Pagan Deities - Learn Religions I still remember it so clearly. It's easy to see why they scare so many people. It has gotten more intense over the years. Maybe I dont have to decide and can just do whatever my heart leads me to do. It was thought to live in the depths of large lakes. 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. Which is weird to me since I raise praying mantids and scorpions as a hobby. The kasha would either eat the bodies or carry them away to the underworld, where they were to be judged for their wickedness during their lives. She is known to bless women with babies and also protect them. They dont take kindly to wrong-doers. Cats were significant both socially and religiously. She would go as far as to tear out the heart of evil-doers and present it as a gift to the sitting pharaoh. Required fields are marked *. She is a professional member of the Cat Writers Association, and has been a speaker at the BlogPaws and Cat Writers Association conferences. To name a few: Arwan, the Baba Yaga, the Callicach, Cerridwen, Demeter, Dionysus, Inari, Kali-ma, Lillith, Osiris, Pluto, or Thoth. In Indonesia, Barong Ket is a panther- or lion-like leader of good spirits who fights the demon queen Rangda. Many cat mummies have been found in personal tombs as recently as November 2022. In the New Kingdom, Bes appearance changed and he often wore leopard skin. The concept that black cats are an evil omen is not necessarily a native European belief. The Hindu pantheon began in ancient times and is still a part of Indian culture today. In one Hungarian witch-trial transcript, the prosecutions witness recounts how upon encountering two cats at night, whom he perceived as nocturnal apparitions, he began to talk with them, informing them that he wasnt afraid of them because Lord Jesus Christ is with us. The cats, he claimed, responded with peals of human laughter. Asherah was an ancient Semitic goddess who is even mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. 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. There have been mummified cats discovered at Bastets cult center Bubastis, though they havent exclusively been discovered in temples. (Picture Credit: DeAgostini/Getty Images). He was often known as the furious king and was frequently invoked for protection, while also being called the burner for his association with the high summer sun and his penchant for mindless destruction. I would appreciate if somebody could name a few gods/deities that are associated with wasps/hornets/spiders or tbh any insect. Tezcatlipoca was the Aztec god of change, the sky, and ancestral inheritance. If a cat washed its face, it was believed that it wasconjuring rain. It depends on the setting and the intention with which the cat was mummified. harpotho said: Maybe Arachne, the Greek woman who was turned into the first spider by Hera. I tried looking up things related to spider demons and I just get lots of results related to dungeons and dragons/world of Warcraft He looked down at me and replied, I will take u, but u have to be my queen. Dionysus, the Greek God of wine and revelry, rode a leopard or wore leopard skin. Cats in ancient Egypt were so adored that the Persian king Cambyses II exploited Egyptians reverence when conquering Egypt in 525 BCE. And in Japan, we have a famous ancient amulet that depicts a cat called Maneki Neko a.k.a. There are three different ways you can cite this article. Is the witch a cat or is the cat a witch? We stand at their beck and call. I dont understand the dream I had about the spider web. Dont make any sudden moves now! In Hindu religion, Shiva sits upon a tiger or tigers skin. They are partners or they are not. This may sound weird, but I'm a beginner to both Paganism and witchcraft. Beyond all the folklore about beckoning cats, helpful cats, temple-guarding cats, prophets being kind to cats, and cats serving as omens and familiars, there are a tales surrounding cat goddesses and cat gods that we rarely hear about. You wont come across any image of Sekhmet as a mother cat nursing a litter. Belial has sent them after me and Im a damn arachnophobe. The Gayer-Anderson cat is just one among many votive offerings to Bastet. He was said to have evolved from one of. 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. I'm not sure if she had a literal association with spiders though. I have 4 kitty, fur babies, & a stray cat showed up at my door step about a month ago, so I also have her as well even though she stays outside. and our But she kept running away every time I would try. Ancient Egyptians believed that Mut had a significant protective function besides her role in creation. I cant think or say his name without getting lustful. It had been conquered by the Persians in the 5th century, and subsequently conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. They have the same rounded ears and bobtail as their ancestors, and are also big fans of water, unlike most other cats. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is mostly depicted with owls and snakes; however, Athena aids Heracles in slaying a monstrous lion. I became friends with spiders Im not sure if this is because of my somewhat involvement with Lilith.