8.08.2022
5 Dakika
In the adventure of human life from the past to the present, the closest companions have become animals. One of these animals is undoubtedly the cat. Our furry and mustachioed friends have been with us for thousands of years. When talking about the cat, the first thing that comes to mind is ancient Egypt, but recent research shows that cats, along with other animal species, were domesticated in Mesopotamia more than a hundred thousand years ago. Since then, the friendship between man and cat, sometimes competition, has continued to grow.
It is not surprising that cats are associated with ancient Egypt because we have known for a long time how important cats were in Egyptian culture. The Egyptians had a great fondness for cats because they believed that the gods and rulers had feline characteristics. Do you know why? Because they believed that the gods and rulers were very similar to cats. Just like cats, they could be protective and loyal; on the other hand, they could also be independent and occasionally angry. Also, cats were the most notorious enemies of mice and insects in the warehouses where grain was stored. In other words, cats were creatures for them to protect the commerce with which they were fed and enriched. They were so popular that the Egyptians idolized cats. They even built a temple to Bast, the cat goddess. Bast was known as the goddess of music, joy and dance.
Cats were not only important in Egypt. Since ancient times, cats have been the subject of many stories and legends. In some eras and cultures, they were considered sacred, they appeared in various cultural fields from art to literature and sometimes even took over the role of humans. When talking about significant cats in history, Bast, the cat goddess, Sam, who survived the hardships of World War II and proved that cats can have nine lives, Fèlicette, the only cat successfully launched into space, or Garfield, the cartoon character, may come to mind. But did you know that many famous cats are living in history in Türkiye? On August 8, World Cat Day, we would like to introduce you to these famous cats in our ancient sites and museums.
The archaeological site of Ephesus is a mega-city that has existed for thousands of years with its unique architectural works and magnificent structures. In Ephesus, famous for its Hellenistic buildings, you can discover urbanistic, architectural and religious elements of different civilizations. You can also visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World in Ephesus, which gives visitors a glimpse into the life of the city in ancient times. You can be sure that this temple, completed in 550 BC, is as well protected as the other structures. Let us introduce one of those who performed the task of protection: Batman, one of the most popular cats of Turkish Museums! You can click on the link and meet him.
Antalya Museum is one of our museums that was established in 1922 to protect the cultural assets of the country before the Republic of Türkiye was officially established. The most important works that illuminate the entire history of the region are exhibited in the Antalya Museum, which is one of the leading museums in the world with its unique collections. Our friends with paws also love this museum, where you can see works from a wide historical period from the Paleolithic Age to Rome. Would you like to meet them? Click now.
After the trip to Konyaaltı Coast, which is also near Antalya Museum which has both garden and indoor exhibitions, you can spend a pleasant time with our friends with paws. Click now to get more information about Antalya Museum, which is visited by our cute cats as well as our visitors.
Aphrodisias is one of the most important archaeological areas in Türkiye with its well-preserved and beautiful architectural structures. When it comes to Aphrodisias, the temple of Aphrodite is, of course, at the top of the list. It was believed that those who sought refuge in this temple, an important place of worship, were protected. You should visit this temple, which has never lost its glory.
As the name suggests, we do not know if Aphrodite visited this temple dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. However, there is one visitor who particularly highlights the beauty of the Temple of Aphrodite. Click here to meet the cat of Aphrodisias, which immediately attracts attention with its beauty and elegance.
When it comes to a cat-friendly city, Istanbul is one of the first cities that comes to mind, with 200,000 cats. Some of these cats, who live intertwined with humans and give the city a different beauty, are also very interested in history. The Istanbul Archaeological Museums are a favorite place for cats.
Consisting of three departments and open to visitors since 1891, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums are considered the first museums in Türkiye. In their collections, there are almost a million works from different cultures. We recommend you to visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, whose restoration has been completed and whose exhibition has been renewed.
Besides the collections, you can also meet Turkish Museums cats in Istanbul Archaeological Museums, which will fascinate you with their eye-catching architectural structure. They can help you because they know the place like the palm of their paws. Click on the link now to meet them.
The Anatolian Civilizations Museum, which was 100 years old in 2021, is one of the museums that should be visited by history and archaeology enthusiasts. In this museum, you can see the original works of Anatolia since the Paleolithic Age in chronological order. In the museum, which consists of two main buildings, you will come across hundreds or even thousands of years old works that will tell you brand-new stories of the ancient civilizations. We are sure that you will be interested in the works from the Hittite period.
While visiting the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which covers a large area, you may have to take a break several times. You can rest in the lush garden of the museum and meet our history enthusiasts who have discovered this garden before you. Click on the link now to meet one of the hairy inhabitants of the Anatolian Civilizations Museum.
In the seven regions of Türkiye, known as the cradle of civilizations, there are dozens of museums and many archaeological sites that are thousands of years old. In these areas, where you can trace the oldest stories of mankind, you can see different cultures, languages, habits, beliefs and lifestyles. In the garden of the museums and the archaeological sites, one can recognize the Turkish Museums cats living in harmony with history and culture, in harmony with nature and people, remembering that we have been living together with them for thousands of years and sharing this world with them. It is our greatest task to protect what we have in these times when we are beginning to feel the effects of global warming and the decline of biodiversity. We think our cats, who are interested in history, will remind us of this responsibility. We love our cats, the stars of our Caturdays, who accompany us through our history in our stories. Happy World Cat Day on August 8!
