The ancient Egyptians did not worship entire species — not even their splendid cats, whose mummies, well represented in the exhibition, sometimes appear in casings bearing traces of their original gilding. Most animal mummies buried with people, like those of ducks and geese, were intended as food for the departed; a smaller number were royal pets. Egyptologists have interpreted the more ordinary animal mummies, however, as divine offerings, gifts of gratitude. Other scans show partial remains or two mummies in a single case; one cat mummy contains only sand and pebbles. The case is inscribed with a title that translates as “Osiris — the Cat,” linking the animal’s soul with Osiris, the powerful god ruling the afterlife.

Source: New York Times October 01, 2017 11:15 UTC