Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world. They are kept by humans as pets,hunting rodents and as companions. They are mostly seen as sweet, playful, and a great pet. But did you know that in 525 B.C. they were used as an army to fight the Pharaoh Psametik III?
Ancient Egyptians have a huge respect to all living being in the world which explains why they prefer eating plant crops and vegetables, although they also eat meat they pay respect and thank it's sacrifice.
Cats in particular were a popular a pet across all Egypt. Cats are closely associated to the goddess Bastet, she was the goddess of cat, home, fertility, women's secret, and childbirth. Egyptians have a strict rules when it comes to cats as any harm done would make Bastet angry. Killing a cat is punishable by death.
The Persian King Cambyses II know all about this sacred belief of the Egyptians. Which he then exploited when they tried to invade Egypt.
The Army of Cats
At the first part of the battle, the Egyptians was holding the Persians off. But then the Persian King had a great tactic prepared for the invasion, he ordered his men to paint an image of Bastet on their shield and the main front lines,of course a hundred of cats.
The Egyptians archers were caught off-guard and did not expect this kind of approach. Afraid of harming the cats and their goddess, the Egyptians retreated and surrendered their position and was massacred by the pursuing persians. When then eventually led to the capture of the pharaoh.
The Egyptians despite the brink of downfall held to their belief and did not crossed the line makes me admire their culture and want to learn more
According to Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian, what triggered the invasion was due to Cambyses II being insulted by the Pharaoh Amasis. The Cambyses II wrote to the Amasis asking for one of his daughter to be his wife.
The pharaoh did not want to comply, instead he sent the daughter of his predecessor. The woman was insulted as it was not their tradition to be married on a foreign man. Upon arriving at Cambyses, she revealed the truth which angered the persian king for sending him a "fake wife" and mobilized his troops for the invasion.
Even if this story is not true, the Persians would still attacked and invade Egypt anyway. The Assyrians had already conquered the country in the late 7th century BCE, and the Egyptian army had proven itself no match for the superior weapons and tactics of the Mesopotamian forces. The Persians, who were expanding their empire, would have known of the earlier conquest and Egypt's inability to defend itself as it could in the New Kingdom and so would have had little hesitation in launching an invasion.