The cat has an unusual history: it has come the way of "the goddess to witch." People's attitude towards it is not unequivocal: some love it, others do not. In fact those in which the cat does not produce love, not much. Progenitor of all domestic cats is the Nubian wild cat that five thousand years ago Egyptians had led the field in northeastern Africa, Nubia and tamed.
Egyptians especially high prices remarkable ability of the cat destroying rodents. Therefore, it was numbered among the sacred animals, and the goddess of the night, and fertility deterazhdaneto Basta was depicted with feline head. Cats living in gorgeous temples and ate only the most exquisite food; had its own priests who served them; worshiped them numerous pilgrims.
Fire Egyptians were obliged to take their cats first and only then to start putting out the fire. They experienced very severe death of the sacred animal. Existed even special mourning ritual in which you cut your hair and shave their eyebrows.
Killing a cat, even accidentally, was punishable by death. There is a tradition that the Egyptians lost cats for a whole battle with the Persians. Persian King Cambyses before attacking one of the Egyptian cities gathered a huge amount of cats. He released the animals before the advancing army, each soldier instead of a shield in his hand on a sacred animal. Egyptians surrendered without a fight: they could not risk the lives of cats.
Dead animals embalmed and buried in small coffins of gold or silver, which were richly decorated with precious stones. In 1860 in Egypt, near Ben-Hassan was found cat cemetery where buried there were 180,000 cat mummies. Some of the ancient beliefs and customs are alive today. In England and to this day there is a belief that while at home a black cat fisherman not in danger at sea. The British believe that if a black cat crosses your path, it's a good sign; if you enter the house or room, it means the owner awaits him joy. The happy life of cats in Europe over 700 years ago when power medieval Catholic Church sacred turned their anger toward all animals that have benefited tribute to East.
To strengthen the position of Christianity, religious struggle intensified and black cats occurred times. Therefore, she was worshiped as a pagan god, because his preference for night walks because of his silent movements because of the glowing eyes in the dark (in other words everything for which she is worshiped in Egypt), now the cat was declared hells spawn, incarnation of the demonic forces, assistant witches. Almost all European countries the cat became a symbol of evil, and especially black. Them, drowning them, throwing them from tall buildings, with hundreds of them burned at the stake. In the Netherlands, was specifically designated "cat Wednesday" - a day of mass extermination of cats. And only rats saved caressing models predators of the executioners of the Inquisition; ugly aggressive invasions of these rodent compelled people to spare the lives of cats and even to grow them.
At the same time, Muslims, unlike Europeans revered and respected cat. According to a legend of Magomet someone who just loves cats had to get up and leave somewhere, but on the wide sleeve of his robe slept with one of his favorite cats. In order not to disturb your pet, Magomet gone ... as the first cut sleeve.
In Japan, cats also have won universal recognition: mice love silkworm, while cats - mice. In the land of the rising sun cat has long been considered the patron of a Tokyo temple where she is depicted with her right hand raised: it is a "dummy Keko" cat patron of fortune.
In Russia, the cat has always been the epitome of domesticity and prosperity. This animal there love him and respectfully call him "the lady of the house." For change of residence "hostess" first must cross the threshold of your new home to have him comfort and happiness. Popular belief says that the tri-color cat brings home happiness.
The cat has long become a fictional character (it is enough to remember "Puss in Boots" cat Behemoth's novel "Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov, etc.). She also contributed a lot to science. A cat, and more particularly cat has helped to make the important discovery. French chemist researcher Bernard Kurtua you had a favorite cat who liked to sit on his shoulder while the scientist breakfast in his study. One day the cat was fed up sitting on the shoulder, jumped on the table and inadvertently broken jars placed there with different reagents. They contain compounds mixed and as a result the resulting chemical reaction in the air curled balls of purple vapor. When distracted, Kurtua noticed surroundings deposits from a crystallized substance. This turned out to be unknown for those times free iodine. Thus, thanks to the cat was made very significant scientific discovery.
Danish scientist Finzen paid attention to the unusual behavior of the sick cat who was sitting on the roof of his house. He sat on the sunlit part. When shadow moved beside him and closed, it became and moved to another location, still lit by the sun. Such maneuvers he repeated several times in a row. A Finzen thinking. Whether the sun's rays are not healing to people? Trusting the instincts of a cat, the scientist began experiments in this direction. They showed that the beneficial therapeutic effect have light rays in the violet sector of the spectrum. Right then and was proposed to use ultraviolet rays with curative intent. Later this idea was successfully implemented in practice, which Finzen Nils Ryuberg was awarded the Nobel Prize.
Time Charles Darwin leaning example of the dependence of crop seed alfalfa on the amount of cats. Cats exterminate mice, mice destroy the nests of bumble bees and bumble bees pollinate alfalfa. So, the more cats, less mice and fewer mice more bumblebee and bigger harvest seeds. A man who sowed alfalfa gets her food for cattle. And this is how, in a sense, cats assist people to yield themselves more dairy and meat products.
The famous German zoologist E. A. Brem thought of all mammals (except monkeys), cats have the highest intelligence. They are patient, resourceful, extremely careful and have lightning reaction.
Once some bandits while robbed a bank in town Laden Cruces (New Mexico), were forced treasurer to face the wall to take his keys from the safe. Puss Kaspar, who until then safely take a nap on the windowsill, light sprang to the floor and quietly pulled the emergency brake pedal, which is under the table. At the police station was a signal "robbing the bank".
In the house of the English clerk Dorothy Kennedy overnight thieves invaded and began to threaten her, asking her money. And then pounced on them furious cat Lucky. Hissing and throwing at them, he tore his clothes in one of the bandits and scratched, then threw to the other. Stunned by the sudden attack, the robbers rushed to jump out the window.
Described are many cases in which cats bravely defend their owners - most often they are children - from snakes, which they manage with lightning speed to catch their teeth and kill before they harm people.
Few people know that cats can perform state work. For example in the UK, to prevent damage inflicted on mice exhibits in the world famous British Museum, the staff at the museum was officially enlisted a "cat company" composed of six cats. Each received 50 pounds per year. And do not confuse any of your visitors and drive them or harm them in any way, all you should see that they are all "museum", which is why they made "uniform" - on the neck of each them tied lush yellow ribbon! A similar service is entrusted to cats, officials in some post offices in London.
In the not so distant past in the famous Russian "Hermitage" several cats were officially allowed in the exhibition halls of the museum and even been assigned food. Specially appointed person cared for their livelihoods. Now there is no such custom. But it can be assumed that in many countries the cats saved many priceless works of art
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