History Lesson

Frontline Felines

In ancient Egypt, cats were sacred to the goddess Bastet, and associated with home, fertility, and childbirth. Killing a feline, even by accident, was seen as a serious sin and could be punishable by death. The Egyptians venerated these playful creatures to the point where, during fires, Egyptians would prioritize saving cats before trying to put out the fire.

In 525 BC, the leader of the Persian Empire, Cambyses II, used the Egyptians’ reverence for cats to his advantage during his attempt to conquer Egypt. During the Battle of Pelusium, he ordered his soldiers to drive cats to the front lines. Some historical accounts even suggest that images of cats and other sacred animals were painted on the Persian shields. Faced with the prospect of harming these holy creatures and invoking divine punishment, Egyptian soldiers hesitated to engage, allowing the Persians to breach their defenses and subsequently secure victory. 

Historians debate the exact extent to which these frontline felines directly influenced the battle’s outcome, with some claiming their presence as a significant factor in the psychological disruption of Egyptian morale. One figure who recounted the story of the Persians’ “cat-alyst” for victory was Polyaenus, who has been described as “a retired Macedonian general more interested in novelty than historical accuracy.” Or perhaps hiss-torical accuracy.

Regardless of the extent to which this harrowing tail is true, the Persian triumph at Pelusium was instrumental in marking the beginning of Persian rule over Egypt. Their employment of the “cat-valry” shows an early example of psychological warfare: clearly a paw-some tactic for the “Purrsians.” Aren’t all these puns the cat’s meow?

So next time your kitty begs for more food or affection, you might want to oblige: you never know, one of her nine lives may have included time on the battlefield!

Written By: Ellie Hoffman

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