Progenitor of all domestic cats - Nubian wild cat, which the Egyptians were taken 5 thousand years ago from Nubia.
The ancient Egyptians appreciated the remarkable ability of cats to destroy rodents. Therefore, it was ranked among the sacred animal, and the goddess of the night, fertility and childbirth Basta depicted with a cat's head. Cats lived in the temples of luxury, eating the best food, they served their priests worshiped many admirers.
During a fire, the Egyptian was obliged first to make a cat and only then proceed to extinguish the fire. Death of the sacred animal is very grieved. There was even a mourning ritual, whereby cut hair and shaves his eyebrows.
Killing cats, even involuntary, punishable by death. There is a tradition which tells, both because of the cats, the Egyptians lost the battle to the Persians. Persian King Cambyses, before attacking one of the Egyptian cities, has collected a huge number of cats. The animals were released ahead of the advancing troops, where each warrior instead of a shield in his hand a sacred animal. Egyptians surrendered without a fight: they could not risk the life of cats.
Dead animals embalmed and buried in boxes made of gold or silver and is richly decorated with precious stones. In 1860 in Egypt, not far from Beni-Hasan, discovered feline cemetery, where it was buried 180 thousand cat mummies. Some ancient omens and customs are still alive today. In England there is still a belief: while a black cat in the house - a fisherman not in danger at sea. The British believe that if a black cat ran across the road - this is a good sign if she ran into the house or room - the master waits for joy. Happy Life of cats in Europe ended about 700 years ago, when the mighty medieval church turned their anger on the animals esteem in the East.
As the Christian religious struggle intensified, and the cat came black times. Because she was a pagan god, a predilection for night walks, quiet movement, luminous eyes at night (for all that were worshiped in Egypt), announced its devil incarnate, the embodiment of evil spirits, witches posobnitsey. Almost all European countries, the cat became a symbol of evil, especially black. The animals were drowned, thrown from the towers, hundreds were burned at the stake. In the Netherlands, was equipped with a special cat Wednesday - the day the mass extermination of cats. And only the rats saved tender predator from the servants of the Inquisition, and their terrible invasion that forced people to maintain and even acquire cats.
At the same time, Muslims, unlike the Europeans, the cat was revered and respected. According to legend, Muhammad, a cat who liked, it was necessary to get up and leave, but on the wide sleeve of his robe was asleep one of them. Not to worry darling, Muhammad left, ... cut off the sleeve.
And in Japan, cats have won universal acceptance: the mouse love the silkworm, mice and cats. In the Land of the rising sun cat has long been considered the patron of a temple in Tokyo, where she is depicted with a raised right paw: it is - "dummy Kyoko", cat-patroness of happiness and luck.
In Russia, the cat has always been the embodiment of home comfort and well-being. The animal is love, and respectfully called "the mistress of the house. When you move "mistress" should be the first to cross the threshold of a new home, otherwise it will be of comfort and happiness. Popular legend claims that three-colored cat in the house brings happiness.
The cat has become a literary character (think "Puss in Boots", Kota Kotofeevicha or cat Behemoth from the novel by MA Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita"), it also has no less a contribution to science. Cat, or rather the cat helped make an important discovery. The French explorer Bernard Courtois, when he lunched in his office, sitting on the shoulder usually beloved cat. Once the cat is tired, he jumped on the table and smashed bottles of reagents. Thus deceased are mixed fluid, and as a result of chemical reaction in the air rose purple clouds of steam. When they settled, Courtois noted in neighboring objects crystal plaque. It was unknown at the time the free iodine. So, thanks to the cat had done quite a major scientific discovery.
Danish scientist Finsen drew attention to the unusual behavior of the sick cat, perched on the roof of the house. He sat on that part which covered the sun. Once a shadow approaching him, he immediately switched to a new place, lit by the sun. Such maneuvers cat repeated several times in a row. And Finsen thought. Is it possible to sunlight to treat people? Having trusted the instinct of a cat, scientists began experimenting. They showed that the beneficial therapeutic effect is exerted by the violet rays of the spectrum. Then it was suggested to use ultraviolet rays for medical purposes. This idea was successfully implemented, for what Niels Ryberg Finsen was awarded the Nobel Prize.
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