Cats in ancient Egypt period. Mummified remains of 335 domestic and 29 jungle cats were excavated in the catacombs of Anubis at Saqqara during works started in 2009. In the 2nd century, Polyaenus accounted of a stratagem allegedly deployed by the Persian king Cambyses II during the Battle of Pelusium (525 BC): Cambyses II ordered placing of cats and other animals venerated by Egyptians before the Persian front lines. Egyptians purportedly stopped their defending operations, and the Persians then conquered Pelusium. Cats in ancient Egypt Cats in ancient Egypt were represented in social and religious practices of Ancient Egypt for more than 30 centuries.
Saqqara an excavation team led by Salima Ikram, and an international team of researchers led by Paul Nicholson of Cardiff University, uncovered almost eight million animal mummies at the burial site. It is thought that the mummified animals, half of which were birds, although a great many were dogs as well, were possibly intended to pass on the prayers of their owners to their deities. In July 2018, researchers discovered an extremely rare gilded burial mask. The last time a similar mask was found, was in 1939. In November, 2018, seven ancient Egyptian tombs were located at the ancient necropolis of