egypt.

Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities / AP We know some cat people who worship their pets, but nothing like this. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 2,200-year-old temple dedicated to the ancient Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. According to Discovery News, the temple, measuring 200 feet in height and 49 feet in width, probably belonged to Queen Berenike II, the wife of king Ptolemy III. The cat goddess was worshipped in the ancient city of Bubastis, which featured a cemetery of mummified cats. Bastet started out as a lion goddess, then later became a domestic cat goddess with a cult centered in Bubastis. The Supreme Council of Antiquities released a statement saying, "This ...

Flickr/Muffet One of the oldest -- if not the oldest -- breeds of cat is the Egyptian mau, which can be traced back to artwork that's over 3,000 years old. The mau (which means "cat" in Egyptian) is the only naturally occurring spotted breed of domestic cat. All other spotted breeds are outcrosses or hybrids. It is the fastest breed of cat, clocking in around 30 miles per hour, and they're known for a specific territory-marking dance they perform, in which they shimmy on their back legs. The mau is well known for its gooseberry green eyes, mascara lines, and concerned expression. It is unknown how maus first evolved, though it is thought that their origins lie in a mutation from African ...