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Ancient Egyptians Worshipped Cats but Their Skulls Reveal a Much Darker Story
ZME Science • • world
Key Points:
- A study of 131 ancient Egyptian cat skulls from a mummified animal cemetery reveals many cats suffered injuries, diseases, and signs of violence, challenging the notion that all cats were pampered sacred pets.
- Nearly 62% of the skulls showed pathological changes including periodontitis, infections, and bone abnormalities, while 14 exhibited traumatic injuries such as fractures, puncture wounds, and blunt-force trauma.
- Some injuries were inflicted by other cats, but several skulls bore marks consistent with human violence, possibly from punishment, crowding-related conflicts, or the killing process for mummification.
- The findings suggest a dark side to ancient Egypt’s cat worship, where cats might have lived in cramped, stressful conditions with risks of disease, fights, and deliberate harm despite their revered status.
- This research highlights the irony that while cats were preserved as sacred offerings for immortality, their remains now reveal the harsh realities many endured in life.
