Cats have been beloved pets and sacred animals throughout history, so it’s no surprise that Cleopatra, the famous last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, had a feline companion by her side. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Cleopatra’s cat was likely named Bastet or Ubasti.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore what’s known about Cleopatra’s cat, from its potential names to its place in Egyptian culture and religion. We’ll also examine Roman accounts describing Cleopatra’s relationships with her cats, and debate theories put forth by historians about her feline’s identity.
By the end, you’ll have a deep understanding of why Cleopatra’s cat captured so much attention and intrigue throughout history.
The Significance of Cats in Ancient Egypt
Cats as sacred animals
Cats were highly revered in ancient Egypt and considered sacred animals. According to Egyptian mythology, cats were created by the sun god Ra. Cats were associated with the goddess Bastet, the cat-headed deity who represented protection, fertility, and motherhood.
Killing a cat in ancient Egypt was a crime punishable by death. When cats died, their owners would go into mourning and shave their eyebrows to represent their grief. The Egyptians mummified cats and placed their mummified bodies in temples as offerings to Bastet.
Over 300,000 cat mummies have been found in Egypt.
Bastet, goddess of cats
Bastet was the Egyptian goddess of cats, protection, joy, dance, music, family, and expectant mothers. She was depicted as a woman with the head of a cat or lioness. Bastet temples kept sacred cats that were adorned with jewelry and fed gourmet food.
Followers of Bastet would make pilgrimages to her temples, leave offerings, and ask for her blessings. An annual festival celebrated Bastet with music, drinking, and dancing. Bastet was one of the most popular deities in ancient Egypt.
Her status as a cat goddess exemplified how revered cats were in Egyptian society.
Cats in everyday Egyptian life
In addition to being worshipped, cats had an important practical role in ancient Egypt. They protected homes and granaries from rats, snakes, and scorpions. Having a cat was considered good luck. Killing a cat, even by accident, resulted in severe punishment.
When a family cat died, the entire family would shave their eyebrows as a sign of grief. Dead cats were often mummified and buried in cat cemeteries. Cat owners who could afford it would have their cats mummified and placed in Bastet’s temple. Over 300,000 cat mummies have been discovered.
Cats were so essential that Egyptians would memorialize them by making small cat statuettes as offerings to Bastet. Clearly, cats were deeply embedded in Egyptian mythology, religion, and daily life.
Roman Accounts of Cleopatra’s Cats
Plutarch’s description of Cleopatra’s cat obsession
The ancient Greek biographer Plutarch provides one of the earliest written accounts of Cleopatra’s love for cats. In his Life of Antony, written around 100 AD, Plutarch describes how Cleopatra once playfully bet Antony that she could spend 10 million sesterces on a single dinner.
According to Plutarch, Cleopatra ordered a lavish feast, but then had the food served to her cats instead of eating it herself. He writes, “She actually did place each plate before a cat, and the cats dined exceedingly well that evening, giving pleasure to her and annoyance to Antony.”
This amusing anecdote shows that Cleopatra’s cat obsession was well-known, even a century after her death.
Plutarch also relates how Cleopatra once dissolved a precious pearl earring in vinegar and drank it, simply to show Antony that she could devour a fortune in a single meal. Modern scholars debate whether these stories should be taken literally, but they demonstrate how Cleopatra cultivated an image of extravagance and eccentricity.
Her cats evidently played a role in this reputation.
Other references to Cleopatra’s cats
While Plutarch provides the most detailed account, other ancient writers also allude to Cleopatra’s fondness for cats. For example, the Roman poet Propertius, writing around 25 BC, claimed that if Cleopatra had won the Battle of Actium against Octavian, she would have ordered a triumph in Rome with “leopards drawing a cart with the effeminate Roman populace in chains.”
The reference to leopards hints that Cleopatra identified with exotic felines.
The Roman historian Cassius Dio, writing 200 years after Cleopatra’s death, claimed that she tested poisons on prisoners and even her own servants. Intriguingly, he specifically mentions that she tried out a toxic ointment on “cats, as they say.”
This implies that her experiments involved the cats she kept as pets.
While these accounts are brief, they demonstrate that Cleopatra was strongly associated with cats in the ancient world. Her name became synonymous with luxury, eccentricity and a morbid interest in poisons – and her beloved cats evidently contributed to this notorious reputation.
Though the actual name of her cat remains lost to history, it clearly occupied an important place in her legend.
Theories About the Identity of Cleopatra’s Cat
The case for Bastet
Bastet was an Egyptian goddess who had a cat’s head and represented protection, fertility, and motherhood. Some historians theorize that Cleopatra named her favorite cat after this revered deity as a sign of respect and favor.
Evidence supporting this theory includes ancient Egyptian artworks depicting Cleopatra making offerings to Bastet. Additionally, Bastet was highly popular among Egyptian royalty at the time. Naming a cherished pet after the goddess would have been fitting.
The case for Ubasti
Ubasti was another Egyptian cat-headed goddess associated with protection, fertility, and joy. Her name means “she of the ointment jar,” referring to her role in embalming rituals.
Some scholars propose Ubasti as a potential name for Cleopatra’s cat due to the goddess’ strong ties to felines in Egyptian mythology. The affectionate name may have invoked Ubasti’s protective capacities and cheerful qualities that Cleopatra admired.
However, evidence directly connecting Cleopatra’s cat to the Ubasti moniker remains scarce. But the name’s symbolism resonates with what we know of Ancient Egyptian traditions.
Other proposed names
A few other names have been put forward over the years as possibilities for Cleopatra’s beloved pet, though supporting evidence is minimal.
- Mut (an early Egyptian mother goddess sometimes depicted with a cat head)
- Miu (meaning “cat” in Ancient Egyptian)
- Ta-Miu (“the cat” in Ancient Egyptian)
Without definitive proof, the cat’s name remains a mystery. But theories continue to debate possible connections to Egyptian goddesses and language.
The Enduring Mystery and Allure of Cleopatra’s Cat
Cleopatra’s cat in art and literature
Cleopatra’s cat has captured the imagination of artists and writers for centuries. Though the actual name of the Egyptian queen’s feline companion remains lost to history, that hasn’t stopped the tabby from being depicted in paintings, poems, plays, and more.
From Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra to T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the enigmatic cat has come to represent Cleopatra herself – seductive, aloof, and utterly mesmerizing.
Some of the earliest artistic portrayals of Cleopatra feature a cat by her side. In a 1st century AD Roman painting, the queen tenderly cradles a cat while meeting with Antony. Symbolizing Cleopatra’s intelligence and sacred status, the cat became a fixture in later works like those by Peter Paul Rubens and John William Waterhouse.
Writers like Robert Graves took creative license with the wily feline in historical fiction novels that cast it as Cleopatra’s constant companion and confidante. The allure remains so strong that a modern musical like Cleopatra the Musical includes an entire song dedicated to the “Legend of Cleo’s Cat.”
So why has this unknown cat captured our collective imagination so? Likely because it represents the mystique and allure we associate with Egypt’s last pharaoh. To this day, that enigmatic feline sitting primly at Cleopatra’s side represents feminine wiles, unbound mystery, and the exotic draw of ancient Egypt to the Western world.
The queen’s cat has become so iconic that it’s now inseparable from Cleopatra herself in the popular imagination.
Modern-day speculation and intrigue
Though her cat’s name may be lost to history, that doesn’t stop modern speculation about what Cleopatra may have called her feline friend. Some believe she likely gave it an ancient Egyptian name associated with royalty and divinity, like Bastet or Miu.
Our fascination also opens the door for conspiracy theories – some claim the cat held mystical powers or was even an alien spy!
Online forums and social media reveal our ongoing intrigue. Cleopatra’s cat has multiple fan pages, Twitter handles, and Reddit threads dedicated to the mysterious feline. While some is certainly tongue-in-cheek, much of the discussion reveals genuine curiosity about the cat and desire to uncover its secrets.
People compare research, share artworks, and “interview” the cat across various platforms. The Smithsonian even ran an article examining the cat’s ancient history and meaning.
A cat belonging to one of history’s most powerful women clearly still captures minds today. While the cat’s true name and nature may never be known, that won’t stop our collective fascination. There’s just something about imagining that regal Egyptian cat sitting haughtily on Cleopatra’s lap as she oversees the kingdom.
It’s an enduring image that speaks to the mystique of ancient Egypt, the everlasting bond between humans and felines, and the timeless allure of powerful, enigmatic women in history.
Conclusion
Cleopatra’s beloved cat has remained an object of fascination for over 2000 years. While we may never know the feline’s name for certain, the most compelling theories point to Bastet and Ubasti as likely candidates.
The cat bore witness to some of history’s most pivotal moments, by the side of one of the ancient world’s most powerful women. Through continued study and discovery, we can hope to one day unravel more of the mysteries surrounding Cleopatra’s cat and its place in Egyptian history.
