Cats and Dogs in Ancient Egypt

Despite a huge diversity of species, many of which making their way into the homes of the ancient Egyptians, like us they had a preference for cats and dogs.
The two had different places in society - cats were highly revered while 'dog' was sometimes used in a derogatory way - but some of the contrasts might surprise you.
Look out for a new Armchair Egyptology video every Wednesday.
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All materials herein remain property of their respective owners. Material included is either with permission, by Creative Commons licence, is in the public domain, or falls under fair use. If you think you have copyright on anything used in this video and the above doesn't apply to your work, get in touch by email or DM me on Twitter. We are not a thief, and will only use something if we can prove it's justified.

[@somecheese]

This episode gives me special joy!

[@Sanisgillon]

Ok but the story of Ta-Miwt is my favourite. She took a whole goose and the prince was like “I’ll allow it”. And that tiny scarf?? She was pure royalty!

[@xg835]

They also raised cats for sacrifice. At Saqqara there are a lot of cat mummies that are around 1yr old and have rung necks suggesting they were sacrifice. (Sorry for the dark tone lol)

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

This is very true! In the Ptolemaic period, raising cats for sacrifice was almost an industry.

[@magickpalms4025]

your videos are so well written! i appreciate the pun as well

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Encouraging my puns may have consequences!

[@trwhitford65]

Although we are not Egyptian, cats are venerated at our house. We have 50 years of cats buried in our sunny backyard with tombstones for each. new sub.....

[@mx6roadster]

it helped me do my homework!

[@randomguy-xp7se]

Egyptians: put on your good headdress, we're going to the dogs funeral! Have some respect!

[@SisterWomen]

"I will never be proven wrong." Lol. I adore that.

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Boy will I be red-faced if I ever meet a time-traveller.

[@SisterWomen]

@@ArmchairEgyptology I think a time travelling Egyptian would have bigger beefs but Prince Thutmose mummy is missing so you never know. He rolls with a dagger so be careful.

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

A lot of people would have to answer for a lot of stuff if the ancient Egyptians ever found out what happened to their mummies and treasures!

[@LewisPh-f3p]

what a fascinating video! i really enjoyed the insights about how Cats and Dogs were viewed in Ancient Egypt. however, i have to say, i find it a bit strange that so much emphasis is placed on Cats. Dogs were also important and had significant roles, yet they often seem to get overshadowed. just my two cents!

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Well if it makes you feel any better; dogs get all the rest of humanity’s attention until the internet shows up 😅 More seriously though, you’re right! And actually we do tend to oversimplify the relationship the ancient Egyptians had with cats, even as their relationship with dogs is downplayed.

[@jebsmoak7505]

Ty forrreal

[@Demion83]

Anubis being a jackal is clearly wrong. Egyptians depicted both jackals and dogs in artwork, there's even a piece where a dog is attacking a jackal. The dogs look like anubis, not the jackals.

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Ancient Greek texts would agree with you, they called him dog-headed, not wolf- or jackal-headed!

[@wararamong]

The looks like a philipine native dog or the forest dog

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Oh no, don’t let the transatlantic truthers see you saying that!