A brief history of cats! This week we take a break from movie reviews to discuss something a little closer to home. Many people consider their cats to be a significant part of their family. We are no different. Because we love our cats so much, we decided to talk about the origin of cats, their history, and their place in the popular culture.
The domestication of cats began in the Middle East around 12,000 years ago, with early evidence suggesting a close relationship between humans and cats in the Fertile Crescent. Cats, likely descended from the African wildcat, were valued for their pest control abilities and gradually became companions to humans, eventually spreading across the globe.
The process of domestication is thought to have begun in the Middle East, specifically in the Fertile Crescent, around 12,000 years ago. As humans settled and began farming, they created environments that attracted both rodents and wildcats, leading to a symbiotic relationship where cats controlled pests and humans provided food and shelter. Archaeological evidence, including a burial site in Cyprus dating back 9,500 years, suggests an intentional relationship between humans and cats, with cats being brought to the island by humans.
In ancient Egypt, cats were revered and even deified, with the goddess Bastet often depicted with a cat’s head. Cats were mummified and buried with great care, indicating their importance in Egyptian culture. Considered sacred animals, harming cats could lead to severe punishments. Cats traveled with the Romans, becoming widespread in Europe by the 4th century AD.
In addition to a brief history of cats, we discuss their popularity in culture. Disney uses and houses cats to control pests. They are a huge part of the population in Istanbul. Cartoon cats abound!
Entertainment Weekly has a list of the 26 most iconic cats in cinema. You can read their entire list at https://ew.com/movies/cats-of-cinema/
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