Ancient Egyptian Forum

Lostris · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:11 am Post subject: Cats in war

Well, I searched for it but I didn't find anything, so now I ask you: my teacher (who knows that I'm interested in ancient Egyptian things) told me that the Egyptian people tied a cat to their shield in wars. Is it true? And if yes, did they do it because of their thoughts about the cat being a saint animal?
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Lostris · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:14 am Post subject:

Sorry, I typed something wrong but I can't correct it because the edit button exacts, so: ...my teacher TOLD ME that the Egyptian... I forgot that 'told me'. Sorry again.
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chiaraal · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:32 am Post subject:

I know that some king had a personal lion (like Ramses II) and they took them in battle...
But...cats! Dont' know.
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Osiris II · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject:

Sorry, but this smacks of being one of the "facts" that go around from time to time.
Think about it--hundreds, perhaps thousands of Egyptian troops tie a cat to their shields? Why?
It sounds as if it's in the same league as the daughter of Khufu building a tomb for herself using a stone from each man with whom she "slept", or the wizard who turned a lake up-side down so a Pharaoh's concubine could retrieve a comb she had dropped overboard.
Pure fable...

Lostris · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:30 pm Post subject:

Well, at least thank you for you too. It sounded really weird I didn't belive it, too, when I heard - so it's one of the theorys (the one with the 'daughter of Khufu' was funny!) which we shouldn't belive. No problem, anyway, and thank you again.
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Psusennes I · Pharaoh Joined: 09 Sep 2004 Posts: 913 Location: England

It think this legend may arise from the fact that many African tribes used animal-skin shields, which to modern eyes may look like animals 'strapped' to shields.
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Merytre-Hatshepsut · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject:

I like Psusennes' theory.
Looking at the models of the egyptian army you see that the shields somewhat resemble animal hides.
Although it looks more like a cow hide.
Laughing

Next theory is that they strapped cows to their shields? (just kidding)

http://www.dignubia.org/maps/timeline/bce-3200.htm

tnrees · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:35 am Post subject:

Possibly a cat amulet - this made me think - I have never heard of a cat amulet even though the Egyptian worship of cats is 1 of the 1st things that comes up when you study Egyptology.