Across the globe, animals have been treasured, hunted, bred or sometimes even worshipped. They are very important to human culture across the globe. So, how have they shaped mythology and legends?
In Egypt, cats shaped their culture and lifestyle. Dogs were typically used for hunting and their ability to be trained to protect, but cats were thought to be more special, being considered magical creatures who would bring good luck to those who kept them in their household. Egypt also had many of their gods based around multiple different animals.
In Hindu culture, cows are seen as extremely important. Cows are considered to be a sacred symbol representing life and are meant to be protected and revered. In one of the oldest Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, the cow is associated with the mother of all the gods, Aditi. There are also certain dharma texts that insist that cows should not be consumed.
In Islamic and Jewish faiths, there are certain animals that are seen as forbidden to eat, such as pigs. Pork is considered an unclean food by God in the Hebrew Bible and therefore forbidden. Other animals that shouldn’t be eaten in those religions are certain fish and birds.
Animals have been parts of religion and mythologies for a very long time, sometimes in subtle ways, and sometimes to the point where they are influential to them.