Enter the ancestors of Garfield the Cat. The flea that bit humans was specific to the black rat anyway. That misguided stereotype is why witches are still depicted with black cats to this day. Wolves/dogs integrated themselves into society. Good read, thanks! Cats breed quickly, know how to survive on their own, and are hard to catch. I dont really agree that cats offered no protection from the plague. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'historyofyesterday_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofyesterday_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Ancient Peruvians may have been attracted to cats in a way similar to Egyptians. I am here because of a PBS documentary on cats that I saw recently. In the meantime, accusations of witchcraft began to spread amongst the ordinary people, as a way of settling grudges or seizing property and cats began to be used as proof of satanic association. But feline-human relations deteriorated sometime in the early 1230s (CE) when Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bull called Vox in Rama. For example, ever heard of Oxford University? In 2021, I dont think that most Catholics or people of other religious believe that cats are evil. Vermin did a number on harvests, but cats were natures perfect solution: they literally cant eat anything that isnt meat, which means that they pose no risk to the crops. Often fueled by a fear, individuals are often capable of doing illogical or terrible things as groups when given permission by authority figures. But feline-human relations deteriorated sometime in the early 1230s (CE) when Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bull called Vox in Rama. Not sure I am convinced either way, but people (especially those who prefer dogs) do like to hate on cats, so it is not a stretch to believe that they have been killed en masse in any era. Tying the cat to satanic worship was a natural progression- and one that would have dire consequences. Unfortunately, modern DNA testing allowed us to dig into the causes of death from aging corpses. Afterwards, they sit down to a meal and when they have arisen from it, the certain statue, which is usual in a set of this kind, a black cat descends backwards, with its tail erect. (2017, February 6). As mentioned, this Pope initiated what has been described as the feline Holocaust 3 in Europe. (Accessed June 1, 2018). Wierd Tales, Vol 36. AKSHAY. And though its unlikely that historys most pro-natural environment pope will encourage cat bonfires, he does suggest we take a step away from the dog ice cream and cat outfits in the pet aisle. According toSmithsonian Magazine, the Nazca geoglyphs may have been used for astrological, calendrical purposes as well as religious rituals to encourage rainfall and fertility. The novice kisses him and feels cold, [like] ice, and after the kiss the memory of the [C]atholic faith totally disappears from his heart. Do you believe that cats are invested with the spirit of Mr. Morningstar. Pope Innocent VIII came to power in the late 1400s, during the throes of witch crusades in Western Europe. Before the 13th century, many societies, . I do support single mothers though, especially those willing to give me 2 for 1 lapdance specials, but I digress. Share this article your friends will love it too! This bull, the story goes, declared cats as the instruments of Satan, and set Medieval Europe on a great cat purge, with special attention paid to black cats, who were particularly Luciferian. I laughed to I almost passed out One thing though some of the Pussy Persecution may have derived from the Witch connection. Before the prospect of burning at the stake for having contact with the purring pets, Catholics around the the continent began slaughtering any feline that entered their property. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'historyofyesterday_com-box-3','ezslot_6',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofyesterday_com-box-3-0');uper-spies James Bond and Austin Powers dont have cats. He therefore gave his official blessing to the widespread persecution of cats across Europe. why did pope gregory think that cats were evil? It was his distaste for cats that penned the Vox in Rama. And each time it hit Europe again, it appears to have come from Asia. If they were dumb, then that means were comparatively smart. Next the myth of toxoplasmosis! Cats just arent dogs, and I respect and love them specifically for that reason. The Vox in Rama encouraged Conrad of Marburg to overreach himself and that same year he accused Henry II, Count of Sayn of taking part in satanic orgies. Both, however, rendered the Catholic Church redundant. The account began by describing the initiation of novices to the coven. But this time, Pope Francis is focusing on all pets saying that people spend way too much money on furry friends. Pope Gregory IX became pope of the Catholic Church in 1227 and he wanted to kill cats. Denmark's Fastelavn held at the start of lent was based on the premise that for spring to begin, evil had to be banished. I like cats, but I dont wear leopard skin or go around posting pictures of cats everywhere. When I was a kid, my mom thought that Id have my own talk show because I was always asking people lots of questions about themselves. Gregory lived from 1145 to 1241, AD. I thank you for your service to this great multiverse. Like, if I were to think of evil depictions on display in a museum, this would be one of them. Literally no cats. How then could he have impacted the good people of the 1300s? Following years brought the great plaque of insects! Many believed this was the end of the human race, and who could blame them? I soon realized thatpublic affairs combined the best of both worlds of journalism and television talk shows I get to learn interesting and unusual things about people who worked with me, I then get to tell their story. The novice then feasted with the rest of the congregation, after which they assembled to pay homage to a black cat which emerged from a kind of statue which normally stands in the place where these meetings are held., The whole coven was required to kiss the cats behind, and once they had done this, a wild sexual orgy occurred. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ehr/article-abstract/CXXII/498/1075/457108/The-Black-Death-in-Egypt-and-England-A-Comparative?redirectedFrom=fulltext, Kattenstoet. It was one of the most deadly pandemics in history. No one can say for sure how many cats were killed because of the association made between them and witchcraft by the Vox in Rama. Your email address will not be published. Retrieved from https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_ct_plague%20, Quora. This was seen as a critical time as the sixth crusade had recently been defeated in Damietta, Egypt. We know they had terrier like dogs in Medieval Europe and that they were used as ratters. At first glance, these rites, with their orgies and obscenities seem to be deliberately far-fetched. (dogma defined as the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, ideology, or any kind of organization: it is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from). If the Black Death was airborne, then rats had nothing to do with it, exonerating Gregory. The nauseating details of the cult initiation process plunge Europe into a manhunt of felines a cathunt. Exterminating cats during the black plague epidemic in the 14th century: Cat owners were often accused of witchcraft, and often murdered along with their pets. Name is important in the papacy as it is seen as a signal of how their reign is envisioned. In the 13th Century a wave of anti-cat sentiment swept through Europe, with religious leaders labeling cats as evil and diabolical, including Pope Gregory IX who did so in 1232 AD. Another belief is that the plague wasairborne. ALL ANIMALS ARE BEAUTIFUL, EVERY SPECIES KNOWN IS A JOY TO BEHOLD, EVERY ONE, RIGHT DOWN TO THE HIPPO, THE PIGS, EQUINES, PACHYDERMS , FELINES, CANINES, BOVINES. cats were only interested in our rat infested granaries. Conrad had initially been involved in the persecution of the Cathars and enjoyed significant successes during the Albigensian crusade of 1209 -1229. *Coupons: Check out our coupons for stores like Checks Unlimited and CheapOair! Gregory IX (Wikimedia Commons) Pope Gregory IX was a pretty good pope by medieval standards. Though the Nazca Lines themselves werent discovered until 1926, when air travel started to become common, its been a World Heritage site since 1994, and is famous for its humming bird and astronaut geoglyphs. A witch and her cat. The population of Europe drops from 80 million to around 30 million by the time the black death subsides, some cities even saw a decrease of more than 70% of their population, few, such as a village called Quob, lost their entire population. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Black-Death, Georgievska, Marija. That evil came to be neatly personified in the form of black cats that were beaten to death to purge the new season of evil spirits. The following rites of this [sect] are carried out: When any novice is to be received among them and enters the sect of the damned for the first time, the shape of a certain frog [or toad] appears to him. On January 23, 1229, he sent messages to Riga, Lubeck, Sweden, to Gotland with an appeal to begin . Ugolino chooses the name Gregory IX, as he assumed the office at the monastery of St. Gregory ad Septem Solia and fully embracing the papal supremacy policy following the footsteps of Gregory VII and Innocent III. It's like visiting the museum with a close friend who just happens to know all the best stories, secrets and gossip. These new, heretical beliefs varied. The Sphinx being the most obvious representation of their reverence of cats, Egyptians also covered their walls with images ofregal-lookingcats and made fine statues of them too. Lead bulla of Gregory IX. Tomb of Ancient Viking High King Discovered, The Most Bizarre Relics From The Ancient Funeral Rite. (2010, February 4). Answer: This looks like a job for History for Atheists! For the worship of the cat had its basis in the pagan past. As one might have predicted, thereafter, mass slaughters of cats blanked Europe. They both carry fleas, only the mice never jump in my lap and bunt their head-glands all over my jeans. The purpose of the papal bull Vox in Rama, was to condemn a cult that had allegedly popped up in the Rhinelandand the bull was specifically sent to the city of Mainz. Great read! You wouldnt hate that, would you? Learn how cats first spread around the world. Wikimedia Commons. In Belgium, an entire festival, Kattenstoet, is dedicated to throwing cats from buildings and burning them in the streets. Just want to add that I like pretty much all animals, even dogs, but I am a cat person. The cats play into the picture as they would have normally been instrumental in cutting down the rat populations. People living during this time lived in constant fear of death. 2022 History of Yesterday | All Rights Reserved. Its believed by some that the plague spread, at least in part,via rats. Besides, it mutated into septicemic and pneumonic forms, thus spreading even faster. Zealousness is a common occurrence in medieval times, the same thing goes for Gregory IX. Honestly, I feel like even thinking that the cathunt resulted or directly influence the black plague is a bit of a stretch. Pope Gregory IX did issue a papal bull, . A quick Internet search brings up a series of articles, including one on the 13 reasons why cats are just plain evil. (Accessed 2018, June 1). According to Pope Gregory IX, cats were the embodiment of the devil himself. Apparently snakes and scorpions were threats too. There is little real evidence for this. Evil cradles in the Austin Powers franchise. Pope Gregory IX did not say cats are evil, and did not order people to kill cats. This sudden lack of cats led to an increase in rat infestation which in turn increased the spread of disease, the most devastating being the Bubonic Plague. As a strategic communicator, I juggle many balls but Im a writer first. Im on the fence about getting an electronic cat that responds to touch (i.e., purring, meowing and flicking its robotic tail) but I can see why Egyptians of antiquity fell in love with cats. In this case, with no cats around, disease-carrying rats multiplied like crazy, spreading the Plague. Omniverous diet, free bleeders- cats and other mammals? In a papal bull of 1233 he denounced the black cat as diabolical. Hera are six really weird pets that you could actually own. Welcome to BELIEVE.art, home of Revolutionary Artist & Warrior-Poet, Chairman Meow. For years there was a debate if the Black Death and the Bubonic Plague were the same, adding speculation to the rat spreading theory. They were shunned, persecuted and often killed by people who feared that they . Its funny thinking about cats as the symbol of evil. The mass killing of those docile beautiful creatures is despicable. I SAY GOOD FOR ALL THOSE SENSELESS HUMANOIDS. This seems to add up for the modern reader. The Vox described the depraved rituals of the cult in detail, portraying the devil worshipped by the witches as a shadowy half cat and half man figure. For he had inherited the problem of heresies which were blossoming across thirteenth century Christian Europe and challenging the 'universal' church. Conrads methods, however, yielded results and in 1231, the Archbishops of Trier and Mainz wrote to the Pope, full of praise for their heretic catcher. Indeed, there is evidence of animals dying from the Plague. However, amongst the warped fantasies were some bare facts from past beliefs which lent themselves to the dark image of witchcraft the church was attempting to conjure. (2016, May 4). Although witch trials did occur on a local scale, they were mainly for the practice of pre-Christian beliefs and tried in secular rather than ecclesiastical courts. What Im seeing here is a well-researched fact piece angering someone who kinda half-remembers something she thinks she read somewhere this one time. Pope Gregory IX was a pretty good pope by medieval standards. The purpose of Vox in Rama, rather, was to condemn a cult that had allegedly popped up in the Rhinelandand the bull was specifically sent to the city of Mainz. The same evil popes who say God created all creatures of the earth, yet they, wantonly murdered these defenseless creatures of the earth that God created. The disease was ravaging Asia before it ever made its way to Europe. Pope Gregory IX (Source: les.tresors.de.lys.free.fr) Cats came to be seen as a symbol of witchcraft, and even as the embodiment of Satan himself. He said they ate too much grain and it was the responsibility of every person to kill a sparrow if they saw one and they were not to give up until they achieved it !!.. While ancient Egyptians would have rathersurrenderto invading army than harm a hand on a cat, the belief by others that cats cannot be trained to be loyal and obedient like a dog, was a source ofanxietyover cats during medieval times. Not only were they a source of companionship they were also a status symbol and source of worship. Purina. It wasn't until Pope Gregory IX came to power in the 1200s that black cats became a symbol of bad luck. Want more crazy cat facts? you suck; F-; see edict ex cathadre by a subsequent POPE reversing greggy 9s cat condemnation- also, Y-Perstis fleas only and I mean ONLY like rats; why? In Ypres in Belgium, it was the custom to hurl cats from the belfry of local churches and then set them on fire during the festival of cats or Kattenstoet. Pope Gregory IX initiated the feline holocaust in Europe which was to continue . The story youre most likely to find in popular history articles goes something like this: Cats were brought to Europe from Egypt by the Romans and enjoyed a decent reputation for a long timeprobably because they were such a boon to agricultural societies. Meanwhile, they need that meat on the regular and know how to get it, so theyre great at killing and eating vermin. Poor cats though. This demonization led to the widespread, violent persecution of black cats in particular. I have no idea where you get the idea that cats place is in the wild. But cats? I was among the attendees of this event, and can attest that it was a doozy. Finally, even if cat numbers were vastly reduced, they were not wiped out. NASA is launching the DNA of some of the most prolific presidents in US history, The 1985 story of a bear that ate 77 pounds of Plabo Escobar's finest cocaine. (As a side note, the festival continues in modern Belgium but nowKattenstoethonors felines with a parade that features cute effigies of cats, but I digress. His papacy started when hereticism run rampant in Europe, and yet, by the end of his term, he saw the completion of one of the most important canon law in the Catholic Church known as the Decretales Gregorii IX, Decretales Gregorii IX, Part, via rats mice never jump in my lap and bunt head-glands. Into the picture as they would have normally been instrumental in cutting down the rat populations witches. Of cats blanked Europe bunt their head-glands all over my jeans account began by describing initiation! Cat as diabolical those willing to give me 2 for 1 lapdance,..., including one on the 13 reasons why cats are evil, and can attest that it was his for! 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