Modern humanity is divided into two roughly irreconcilable camps: "cat lovers" and "dog lovers". Even if people say that they love both those and others equally, this is not so. Too different models of behavior in felines and dogs, to adjust their love for both.
Popular psychology claims that cats are born by people who are independent, self-sufficient and purposeful. And also lovers of the mustachioed and striped are closed and unsociable introverts. Dog fans, on the other hand, love communication, love to be in the spotlight, and are open to new acquaintances.
This oversimplified scheme is not entirely true: dogs don't necessarily have extroverts. On the contrary, I'd rather have a heart-to-heart talk with my dog and walk alone along the side alleys of the park than start an unnecessary empty conversation with my own kind. And, believe me, a dog is much smarter than many people. Notice that I think like an introvert, that is, someone who prefers solitude to a noisy party. But I am a dog lover to the core. I can't stand cats and I don't understand the craze on the Internet for "cats".
Dog - ingenuous, open, betrayed. She easily forgives offenses, and is always ready to pity the owner. Leave the house for five minutes to the store, when you return, the dog will greet him as if he had not seen a year.
Leave the house for a month, leaving the cat in the care of friends. Believe me, she will not notice your absence, even if you disappear on the way. Cats are stupid, vengeful and vicious creatures. No wonder the Holy Inquisition exterminated the population of black cats as fiercely as the imaginary witches! Black dogs, and indeed all dogs in general, also got it in those distant bad times. But first things first.
The heyday of the cult of cats fell on the times of ancient Egypt. History has brought to us the name of the goddess Bastet. In traditional mythology, she was depicted as a woman with a cat's head. She patronized the moon and secret forces. But Anubis, the guardian of the afterlife, was sculpted with the head of a dog or jackal. But at the same time - the dog among the ancient Egyptians was a "solar" animal. The cat represented the world of the moon and night, the dog - of the day and the sun.
The most ancient ideas about a dog among our ancestors are associated with the afterlife: they are faithful guardians of the land of shadows, and silent guides to the other side of life. For example, in the Mayan tradition, the dog is the protector of souls. One of the legends says that because of an oversight made by the guard, a person lost eternal immortality.
In the traditions of many nations, dogs are companions of healers and good wanderers. In later folklore, this belief was transformed into a different idea of dogs: they began to accompany witches and sorcerers.
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In Orthodox mythology, dogs are "unclean" animals. Islam also thinks the same. According to the canons, if a dog runs into a temple, it is closed and consecrated anew. Cats are allowed to walk around freely where they want and even go behind the altar.
Treating dogs as servants of the Devil is reflected in classical literature. At the famous meeting with Faust, Mephistopheles appeared in the form of a black poodle. Recall how Bulgakov describes Woland's appearance: Messire's notable accessory was a cane with a knob in the shape of a black poodle's head.
In occultism, it is believed that dogs, no worse, if not better than cats, see the other world. This belief has its origins in early mythology: if they see off souls after death, then they see the dead. For this quality, dogs were appreciated: they warn people about invisible danger, scare away evil spirits and demons. According to legend, the barking of a dog drives away evil spirits and has the same strong effect on it as the crow of a rooster.
In ancient times, if a person did not have the opportunity to have a dog, then on the door of the house he placed an image of a faithful guard.
Dogs were also deified by African peoples. Respect for the animal was also explained by its utilitarian function. The fastest paws and sharp noses trace their ancestry to the African continent.
In the days of antiquity, the attitude towards dogs was ambivalent. On the one hand, people appreciated their loyalty, on the other, they considered them too obsequious and shameless creatures.
So, exactly shameless, Homer calls the dog, but believes that for a person it is an assistant.
Pliny the Elder, on the other hand, calls the dog and horse the most highly developed creatures worthy of admiration. A horse and a dog will never betray their master.
Satellite dogs accompany many gods. Warrior Artemis is depicted with a pair of dogs that vaguely resemble today's hounds. The god of commerce Hermes was also accompanied by the messenger dogs running in front. The Orion shepherd had the All-Seeing Guardian dog Sirius.
The Greek demigod, half-human physician Asclepius (Aesculapius) claimed that wounds licked by a dog heal faster.
The ancient Romans adored everything powerful, strong and beautiful. Therefore, they respected the same dogs. The breeds that we owe to the Roman Empire have survived to this day - this is the so-called. molossians. Huge dogs, with developed muscles and sweet folds on the face. Dogue de Bordeaux, Neapoletano mastino, and other "fleecy" dogs. Seemingly clumsy, lazy and good-natured mastinos - they took part in long campaigns and wars. The powerful skeleton of these dogs easily withstood the battle armor in which they were dressed in order to avoid injury.
In late Russian mythology, the cat and the dog are opposed, as male and female. A woman is a cat, a man is a dog.
One of the later Slavic (Russian) beliefs says that God created a dog from mud, while a cat is a creature born of purity.
In China and Japan, dogs have a special attitude. In the Chinese horoscope, one of the "annual" animals of the 12-year cycle is the dog. The Chinese believe that people born this year are smart, brave, purposeful, and loyal. At the same time, the cat is associated with cunning and prudence.
Well, if you want to know my opinion, then people who want to be loved just like that, and not for merit, give birth to dogs. You will not receive such honors from "cats". And if a black cat runs across my path, I always let someone go ahead!