The more archaeologists dig into Egypt’s ancient tombs, the clearer it becomes: the Ancient Egyptians were cat people. In 2018, Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities revealed that dozens of mummified cats were unearthed near Cairo in a 4,500-year-old tomb, with over 100 gilded wooden cat statues and a bronze figure of Bastet, the feline goddess of home and protection.
While Ancient Egyptians adored many animals, cats clearly reigned supreme. Indeed, elegant feline forms appear throughout tomb art and sculpture, but were they always top of the animal hierarchy? And what made these mysterious creatures so beloved in ancient times? Click on to find out.