Animals That Were As Gods

Animals have been with us since ancient times, as helpers at work or as pets. 

But far beyond that,  ancient civilizations had some of them as representations of their gods, believing they could save them or perform miracles. Today, we’ll talk about some animals that were thought of as gods.

Civilizations with animals that were supposed to be gods

chinese

If there is any nation or culture that seeks the meaning of animals in our lives, it is China.

Your calendar actually consists of 12 animals representing each month of the year, which also greatly influences the horoscope.

This belief comes from the fact that  the 12 animals that make up the calendar were the only ones who came to Buddha when he named all the creatures in the world.

Those present in the Chinese horoscope are:

• Mouse
• Ox
• Tiger
• rabbit
• Dragon
• Snake
• Horse
• goat
• Monkey
• rooster
• Dog
• Pig

According to the year you were born, you will have personality traits of the animal that governs that period, just as with the zodiac.

It is curious to think that, on the one hand, these animals are respected and revered in China and that, on the other, they commit atrocities with them. For example, in China it is common to see stalls selling dog meat.

indian

India and its religion have dozens of gods, and many of them are animals they respect and revere even more than their own lives. 

As the Indian people believe in reincarnation, it is forbidden to kill any animal or living being, be it a simple  mosquito, as it can contain the energy of an ancestor’s soul.

The mythological conceptions of Hinduism are still respected in the country and many mythological beings are related to animals. For example:

• Snake. It is related to the god Shiva, one of the most important in India, who is related to the contradiction of its interior, on the one hand creative, on the other hand, destructive.
• Cow. The importance of the cow in India is something that is known worldwide: it represents fertility and abundance.
• The monkey god. Hanuman is an ape-shaped deity who represents the alliance between men and apes.
• Elephant. Ganesha is another of the important gods of Hinduism and is depicted with an elephant’s head, as these are revered in the country and believed to be responsible for good luck, rain and harvests.

egyptian

If there was a civilization that had a close relationship with animals, it was undoubtedly the Egyptian one. For centuries, the Egyptians used animals for work, as gods and as pets.

These were some of the animals that were considered as gods:

• Hawk. The god Horus is represented with the head of a falcon, for his elegance and the harmony his body brought to royalty.
• Cat. Thanks to his good qualities as a hunter and companion, he began to be revered and his image was used to represent gods such as the goddess Bastet.
• Scarab. It was associated with Jepri, the dawn sun, who was related to the god Ra, the king of the sun.
• Bull. The bull has always been considered a symbol of fertility. In fact, to this day they say “strong as a bull”. This belief comes from ancient Egypt, which had this animal as a symbol of fertility.
• Frog. It was used to give birth luck because it was believed to be a breathing assistant.

• Crocodile. The energy and potency of the crocodile, from which it was always difficult to escape, made the Egyptians worship him as a god; they represent the god Sobek with his image. Dying attacked by a crocodile was an honor.

These animals, which were considered gods in some civilizations, were considered sacred and it was forbidden to kill them.

It may sound silly to many, but isn’t it much better than what is happening to many of them in the world today?