In Ancient Egypt, then, cats were not only loved as pets, but also bearers of strong symbolic meanings linked to the feminine sphere, to such an extent that killing a cat was considered a very serious crime.
The death of a cat was generally a very painful event for a family, which observed a period of mourning and often honoured the feline with a dignified burial: archaeologists have in fact found several tombs containing the remains of mummified cats with votive objects. Also in Turin, several examples of these special mummies are preserved, which show that the love for this animal went beyond mere domestic companionship.
The cat in Greece and Ancient Rome
Unlike the ancient Egyptians, in Greece the cat lost some of its allure: it ceased to be a sacred animal and became mostly a useful one, valued as a hunter of mice and other pests.
In a context where maintaining adequate hygiene was far from a given, the cat played a crucial role in homes, so it was domesticated and its presence was strongly encouraged.
In Roman times, our feline friends instead regained some of the sacredness they had lost, once again being associated, under the influence of Egyptian culture, with fertility and the female world, and becoming sacred to the goddess Diana, goddess of the hunt, of the moon and protector of women.
The Middle Ages: the cat as a demonic animal?
When we speak of the Middle Ages, we often think of a dark age of decline and superstition. We think of witches, violent inquisitions and black cats as a symbol of evil. In reality, this false myth has been debunked by intellectuals and historians of the calibre of Marc Bloch, Jacques Le Goff and Umberto Eco, who have shown how the centuries believed to be dark were in fact alive in many respects.
In the Middle Ages, in fact, trade resumed, Europe was far more connected, culture flourished in monasteries and courts, and art and architecture enjoyed thriving seasons (think of the Gothic). Superstition? Of course, it existed as in every age, but the most violent witch hunts were concentrated between the late fifteenth and the seventeenth century, well after the medieval period!
For this reason, it is wrong to believe that, in the Middle Ages, the cat was thought of as a symbol of the devil, since valuable evidence shows that it was instead considered a faithful friend, able to keep mice away and provide company. For example, in the great medieval monasteries, where monks devoted themselves to copying ancient texts, the presence of cats was essential, so much so that they often appear in miniatures, almost as if to pay them tribute.
The cat in the Renaissance
In the Renaissance, the cat seems to keep the same role of ‘guardian of the home’ that it had always had since the days of ancient Greece, and once again it is art that shows us this: in the Madonna of the Cat by Giulio Romano, favourite pupil of Raphael, we see, for example, a very human holy family, set in an intimate and domestic dimension. If we look closely, we can notice that at the Virgin’s feet a cat is crouching, a not insignificant detail, which moreover gives the painting its name.
Leonardo da Vinci also associates the animal with the figures of the Madonna and the Christ Child: in a drawing kept in London, very tender and sweet, the artist shows us the Messiah having fun playing with a cat that, perhaps annoyed, seems to be slipping away from him. This animal must have fascinated Leonardo greatly, as he drew it several times and is also said to have declared: ‘Even the smallest feline, the cat, is a masterpiece.’
From the modern era to the present day
The closer we get to our own era, the more the cat becomes a symbol of mystery and seduction and, at the same time, one of the most beloved pets. In the Romantic period, in the nineteenth century, cats often became protagonists of literary works or were portrayed alongside their owners.
The poet Charles Baudelaire, for example, composed the poem The Cat, describing these wonderful creatures as fascinating and ambiguous, capable of evoking both serenity and torment:
“Viens, mon beau chat, sur mon coeur amoureux;
Retiens les griffes de ta patte,
Et laisse-moi plonger dans tes beaux yeux,
Melés de métal et d’agate.”
When, on the other hand, the Impressionist painter Auguste Renoir portrays little Julie Manet, he depicts her with her kitten, with its tender, sly little face. Looking at this painting, it comes to mind that it is nothing other than a forerunner of the photos we take with our four-legged friends to preserve a memory of the lovely moments spent together.
In short, since the days of the ancient Egyptians, the cat has managed to win its place in the world, consolidating its status as one of the most beloved pets of young and old alike.
