Cat mummies

Each group of human beings confers its own reality on the world and finds a way of living in it and making sense of it. These different approaches mean that humans have diverse ways of relating to nature and forming links with other living beings.

Ancient Egypt saw the world as a single unit within which all living beings were organised. All were different, physically and spiritually, but all were connected by a network of similarities. In this balanced world, everyone had their place and their role. A fundamental solidarity existed between humans, other animals and the rest of nature.

The vast majority of animal mummies were ex-votos offered to gods by devotees, with the hope that these deities would fulfil a wish. These animals acquired a sacred status to their death, after receiving the rites during mummification.

Associated with several feline goddesses such as Bastet, Sekhmet or Pakhet, hundreds of thousands of cats were mummified throughout Egypt. Near the temple of Speos Artemidos dedicated to the lioness goddess Pakhet no less than 300,000 mummies have been excavated.Associated with several feline goddesses such as Bastet, Sekhmet or Pakhet, hundreds of thousands of cats were mummified throughout Egypt. Near the temple of Speos Artemidos dedicated to the lioness goddess Pakhet no less than 300,000 mummies have been excavated.