Quick answer
Many cultures have treated particular animals as sacred: as companions of gods, as symbols of qualities people admired, or as beings owed protection in their own right. Cats and ibises in Egypt, the eagle and owl in Greece, the she-wolf in Rome, cattle in Hindu India, dogs at Nepal’s Tihar festival, and Odin’s ravens and wolves in the Norse world. This page gives a short, accurate tour, corrects a few common errors, and suggests what the idea might mean for the animals in your own life.
A short tour
| Culture | Animals | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Egypt | Cat (Bastet), falcon (Horus), ibis (Thoth), jackal (Anubis), crocodile (Sobek) | Gods were shown with animal heads or associated with animals; millions of animals were mummified as offerings. Harming a sacred animal could bring severe punishment, though the “death for killing a cat” story comes mainly from a single Greek visitor’s account. |
| Ancient Greece | Eagle (Zeus), owl (Athena), dove (Aphrodite), swan and dolphin (Apollo), deer (Artemis) | Animals were companions and symbols of gods, not gods themselves. Animal sacrifice was a way of honouring the gods, which is the opposite of worshipping the animal. |
| Ancient Rome | The she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus; the eagle of the legions; sacred geese of the Capitol | The wolf is a founding symbol found on coins and statues. The geese were said to have raised the alarm during a Gallic attack in 390 BCE and were honoured for it. |
| Hindu India | Cattle; also the elephant (Ganesha), monkey (Hanuman), snake (Naga) | Cow protection is a religious and legal matter in much of India; many states restrict or ban cattle slaughter. |
| Nepal | Dogs, crows, cows, oxen | During Tihar, each has a day of honour; on Kukur Tihar dogs are garlanded, marked with tika and fed. |
| Norse world | Odin’s ravens Huginn and Muninn and wolves Geri and Freki; Freyja’s cats; Thor’s goats; the boar of Freyr | Animals are companions and symbols of gods in the Eddas, and appear in runic and picture-stone art. Boar-crested helmets and raven imagery turn up in the archaeological record. |
Three corrections to the old version of this page
- “In ancient Greece, animals were considered gods.” They were sacred to gods, and were sacrificed to them. That is honour by association, not deification.
- “Egyptians felt that gods would return as animals.” Egyptians linked gods with animal forms and kept temple animals as living representatives; “return as” is a modern gloss.
- “Ancient people treated their animals like gods.” Most animals in most ancient societies were livestock, labour or food. Sacredness was reserved for specific species in specific cults.
Animals and runes
Several Elder Futhark runes are named for animals or take their meaning from them: Fehu (ᚠ) is cattle and the wealth they represented; Uruz (ᚢ) is the aurochs, the huge wild ox of the European forests; Ehwaz (ᛖ) is the horse, a partner and a status symbol; Algiz (ᛉ) is often read as elk or sedge and linked with protection. When one comes up in a reading, the animal is a good place to start your reflection: what did the horse mean to a farmer, and what does that suggest about your question? Our guide to the runes covers all 24.
What sacredness might mean at home
You do not have to think your dog is a god to take something from these traditions. The common thread is that a creature owed you attention, care and a measure of ceremony. A dog’s birthday, a garland on the cat (briefly, under protest), a proper burial when a pet dies: these are small, decent echoes of Tihar and of Egyptian mummies alike. And if a particular animal keeps catching your eye, treat it as a symbol to think with, as people always have, rather than as a message; our page on spirit guides explains how to do that honestly.
Related reading
- What are runes and how to use them
- Runes history: from Iron-Age inscriptions to a 1982 paperback
- Understanding your spirit guide
Note: Historical points on this page are summarised from standard reference accounts; where the record is uncertain (such as Egyptian penalties for harming cats), the page says so. Rune meanings are traditional, not predictive.
I find it intriguing that while we no longer worship animals, some cultures still hold them in high regard. This continuity and change are worth exploring further.
The mention of specific animals like the wolf in Rome or the falcon in Egypt emphasizes how integral these creatures were to their mythologies. It’s a captivating study of human-animal relationships.
It’s fascinating to see the historical context of how animals were once revered as divine beings. This perspective helps us appreciate the cultural evolution in our relationship with animals.
Indeed, understanding these cultural shifts can also provide insights into current practices and beliefs surrounding animal treatment.
This article brings to light how historical reverence for animals has morphed into the modern-day companionship we experience. It’s a testament to the deep-rooted bond between humans and animals.
The article provides an interesting overview of the significance of animals in various ancient cultures. I would be curious to learn more about how these views influenced other aspects of their societies.
The comparison between ancient and modern practices of animal worship highlights not only cultural differences but also the enduring respect some traditions have for animals.