As you know, many peoples of ancient civilizations were polytheistic. In some cultures, people worshiped animals as gods, believing that the gods could take on their appearance or were especially favored by them. Today, historians can name a great many animals that have ever been revered as sacred. We will look at just a few of them.
Cow
So, what are the known sacred animals of the countries of the world? In ancient Egypt, the cult of Apis, the sacred bull, was developed. This animal symbolized strength, courage, and fertility. But the Egyptians did not worship an abstract bull or all bulls. Apis was assigned to a calf born with special external marks - it had to correspond to as many as 29 signs. For example, a sacred bull must have a triangular spot on its forehead and an eagle-shaped spot on its back. When a suitable animal was born, a great feast was declared. The incarnated deity Apis had a happy life: he lived at the temple of Ptah, he was honored, fed with the best food and dressed up. If for some reason hecauses died a natural death, mourning was declared. However, upon reaching the age of 25, the sacred bull was still drowned in the Nile: the deity should not be old and decrepit.
The sacred animal in India is the cow. She is still highly respected. According to the principles of Hinduism, these animals are the personification of purity, sacrifice and motherhood.
Cat: the sacred animal of Egypt
Another animal that the Egyptians revered as sacred is the cat. Bast, a goddess with a female body and a cat's head, was considered her divine patroness.
Archaeological evidence indicates that all domestic cats of ancient Egypt were highly respected. Severe punishments were practiced for harming this animal, and for killing, even accidentally, they were punished with death. In Egyptian tombs (in particular, in the city in the city of Bubastis), archaeologists have found many mummified cats: pets were prepared for the afterlife as carefully and carefully as people.
However, despite their sacred status, cats were widely used for practical purposes: to protect granaries from rats and other rodents.
Symbol of righteousness and abundance
What other animal is still sacred today? The white bison is considered a sacred symbol of righteousness and abundance by some Native American tribes. According to the legend of the Lakota people, his image was taken by the goddess, who in ancient times taught peoplesecret knowledge and prayers.
The white bison is an incredibly rare creature. For the Indians, the birth of such a calf is a real miracle, comparable in significance and positive meaning to crying icons or the descent of the Holy Fire for Christians. Even if the White Buffalo appears to a person only in a dream, this is considered an unusually auspicious sign, a promise of happiness and prosperity.
Quetzal
What other sacred animals of the world are known? Currently, the quetzal is the national symbol of Guatemala. In this country, he is known as the bird of freedom and is present on state symbols - the flag and coat of arms. In honor of him, the Guatemalans even named their national currency. And the “career” of the quetzal began more than a millennium ago: the ancient Mayans and Aztecs considered the bird sacred. She embodied the god of air and wind Quetzalcoatl.
Priests and aristocrats wore headdresses from the iridescent plumage of these birds during solemn ceremonies. But no one tried to kill quetzals for the sake of this: they were carefully caught, the necessary feathers were plucked from the tail and released. They were not kept in a cage either. In ancient times, people believed that the “bird of freedom” was not able to live in captivity, but preferred death to shameful captivity. Fortunately, practice has proven that it is still possible to create suitable conditions for quetzals, so they can be seen in zoos around the world.
Once the natural habitat of the quetzal was very wide. But today, unfortunately, the sacred bird of the Aztecs is under the threat of extinction.and listed in the international Red Book.
Deer
What other sacred animals are known? Japan's Nara prefecture is famous for its many ancient monuments and temples, and is also home to one of the largest Buddha statues. However, most tourists come here to get acquainted with the local sacred animals from the nearby forest. The sacred deer of Nara are as famous as the statue.
Every day more than 1000 animals come down the mountain from the forest to the Buddha temple. Here they rest and communicate with tourists who willingly treat them to cookies. According to an ancient legend that is over 1000 years old, it all started with the fact that the god visited his temple, sitting on the back of a deer. Since then, they have been sacred animals for the inhabitants of these places. A few centuries ago, deer were guarded so strictly that killing them was punishable by death. Of course, recently people have begun to treat artiodactyls with less trepidation, but they still remain a national treasure and an amazing landmark of this place.
Scarab
The scarab is one of the oldest and widely known symbols of the ancient Egyptians. This nondescript beetle earned its status as a sacred animal for its habit of rolling round balls of dung towards its burrow. Due to this behavior, the insect was identified with the ancient sun god Khepri, who controlled the movement of the sun across the sky. As the sun ball hid behind the horizon in the evenings, so the scarab disappeared under the ground, so that laterreappear.
The Egyptians often carried a scarab figurine carved from stone or other material as a symbol of eternal life, renewal and restoration. The same symbol was often placed on the chest of the deceased, preparing him for the afterlife.
