The Feline Farewells of Ancient Egypt A TimeHonored TraditionAs we sit here today...

The Feline Farewells of
Ancient Egypt A TimeHonored
TraditionAs we sit here today
surrounded by the comforts of
modern life its hard to
imagine a time when our
beloved pets were treated with
such reverence that their
passing would send shockwaves
through an entire household
Yet in ancient Egypt the bond
between humans and animals was
profound and the loss of a
cherished feline companion was
a tragedy worthy of elaborate
mourningWhen a family cat died
the bereaved family members
would shave off their eyebrows
as a sign of respect and to
ruminate on their grief This
act of physical sacrifice
served as a tangible
expression of their emotional
pain and its easy to imagine
the somber atmosphere that
pervaded their daily lives
during this period of
mourningBut the ancient
Egyptians didnt just stop at
eyebrowshaving they also held
elaborate funerals to bid
farewell to their feline
friends These ceremonies were
a time for the family to come
together share their grief and
celebrate the life of their
dearly departed pet The
rituals would often involve
drinking wine and beating ones
breast in a cathartic release
of emotionsIn a peculiar yet
fascinating tradition the cats
tiny mummy was embalmed with a
sculpted wooden mask
preserving its likeness for
eternity This diminutive but
dignified burial rite was
often performed alongside the
internment of other beloved
pets including mice in a pet
cemetery or family tombAs we
ruminate on these ancient
customs its striking to
consider how little has
changed over time The loss of
a pet is still a profound and
painful experience for many of
us today While our methods of
mourning may differ the
emotional toll of saying
goodbye to a cherished
companion remains a universal
human truthIn remembering the
feline farewells of ancient
Egypt were reminded that even
in death our beloved pets can
continue to bring us together
evoke emotions and inspire
reflection on our own
mortality So let us honor
their memories by cherishing
the time we have with them
while theyre still with us
and of course shaving off our
eyebrows if the mood strikes
usSources The Cat in Ancient
Egypt by J F Borghouts The
Oxford Handbook of Papyrology
edited by T V Evans Ancient
Egyptian Funerary Rituals by A
M ShawImage Credit Mummified
cat with wooden mask circa
1500 BCE from the British
Museums collection

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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