cover of episode The First Cats

The First Cats

2024/8/18
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The Ancients
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James Serpell
T
Tristan Hughes
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Tristan Hughes: 本期节目探讨猫的起源、驯化过程以及在不同文化中的象征意义，特别是古埃及文化中对猫的崇拜。 James Serpell: 基于基因证据，猫的驯化起源于中东地区，特别是沙特阿拉伯及其周边地区。这一地区也是许多其他动物和植物驯化的中心。野猫的独居特性使得其驯化过程可能与群居动物（如狗）不同，可能与人类定居和农业发展密切相关。早期证据表明，人类在猫的驯化中扮演了积极角色，而非完全是被动的自我驯化。塞浦路斯岛上发现的猫的埋葬遗址表明，早在9000年前，人类就将猫带到了岛上，这说明人与猫之间存在很强的依恋关系。猫的驯化可能与控制啮齿动物、保护农作物有关，也可能与人类喜欢将动物作为宠物饲养有关。猫的驯化是一个漫长的过程，即使在现代，猫也仍然能够很容易地恢复野性。在古埃及，猫与女神巴斯特密切相关，成为了一种宗教象征，受到人们的广泛崇拜。在其他文化中，猫的形象也各不相同，例如在阿拉伯文化中受到推崇，而在欧洲中世纪时期，由于宗教裁判所的活动，猫与巫术联系在一起，被妖魔化。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Cats have been cherished companions for millennia, serving various roles in ancient societies. This episode explores their fascinating journey from independent wildcats to the affectionate felines we adore, tracing their origins and domestication.
  • Cats brightened people's lives in ancient times, serving as pets, pest control, and even sacred figures.
  • The episode delves into the origins of the first cats and explores their evolution from wildcats to domesticated felines.

Shownotes Transcript

Cats! These much loved furry friends have brightened people’s lives for millenia. And it was the same in ancient times. They were pets. They were pest control against rats. They were even in some cases considered sacred. But how did they become the pet of choice for homes the world over? And why were they first domesticated?

In today's episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor James Serpell, an anthrozoologist from the University of Pennsylvania to delve into the origins of the First Cats and explore how they evolved from self-sufficient wildcats to the lovable felines we're familiar with today.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

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