Did you know that cats were extremely sacred in ancient Egypt and those who killed one could be punished by death?

According to many Egyptologists, the ancient Egyptians never considered animals to be gods. Instead, they were considered the personification of their powerful deities, which explained why the Egyptians often depicted their ancient gods with animal heads. The same could also be said about cats; they were most certainly not worshiped but were held in high regard. Before becoming symbols of divinity and protection, cats were often adopted by the Egyptians since they were useful predators. Cats were used to protect households from pests and dangerous animals, such as rats and snakes.

The Persians took advantage of the Egyptians’ love of cats. In an effort to turn the tide in a certain battle, the Persians marched to the battlefield with a great number of cats, resulting in the surrender of the Egyptian troops. Of course, whether or not this was true remains disputed, especially when many of the ancient records were either exaggerated or biased—one of the reasons why curious listeners might find it slightly difficult to explore the rise and fall of ancient Egypt.

Here’s just a small fraction of what you’ll discover:

• The mysterious identities of Narmer and Menes, the first pharaoh of Egypt
• How the Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed with human hands
• The dangerous journey into the realm of the dead
• A detailed process of mummification
• How Egypt was forced to bow down to its first foreign pharaoh
• The biggest chariot war in history between the Egyptians and the Hittites
• How Egypt’s religious beliefs played a role in its government
• The fall of Egypt after the death of Cleopatra VII

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