Humans have formed very unique relationships with animals over various eras. Dogs are often affectionately referred to as “man’s best friend,” horses were man’s main mode of transportation for a very long time, and cats hold a very special place in many a human’s heart and home. Outside of these more well known bonds there are other animals that humans have developed very special relationships with as well. Humans have long had a fascination with other animals, as shown in Paleolithic cave paintings in the Lascaux Cave in France, which depict horses, stags, bison, birds, cows, and just one, small human. Animals have also played important roles in folklore and spiritual ceremonies for thousands of years.1 The following are unique human-animal relationships from three cultures that I find to be particularly interesting to share.
The Kitoi and Siberian Dogs
Dogs were one of the first animals to be domesticated by humans, about 10,000 years ago. Their domestication was prompted by their responsiveness to human commands and their usefulness during hunts. However, while highly touted, dogs have also been a food source for some cultures—the Aztecs even bred a hairless dog specifically meant for eating.2
To the Kitoi hunter-gatherers in Siberia, however, dogs were prized companions. The Kitoi were an Early Neolithic population in the Cis-Baikal region of Siberia. Their burial grounds are about 6,000 – 7,000 years old. Dogs, which look similar to the modern-day Siberian husky but are not genetically similar, have been found in these Kitoi graves, providing insight into their important role in Kitoi culture.3
The Kitoi moved frequently, hunting red deer, boar, and bears and fishing in Lake Baikal. Certain dogs were especially helpful in hunting for freshwater seals, because they could sniff out the seal dens. Aside from being hunting companions, there is evidence that dogs ate with the Kitoi. Namely, the two suffered from the same tapeworm parasite, which means they were living in close quarters. Some dogs were considered family members and were buried alongside their human family, often adorned with necklaces or stone tools. Archeologists even noted that in some instances it appeared that human remains were pushed aside in a grave to make room for a special dog. Robert Losey, an archeologist at the University of Alberta, stated, “The Kitoi had an elaborate mortuary tradition, which they extended to their dogs. They treated them just like a person.”4
The Ancient Egyptians and Cats
Cats were treasured in Ancient Egyptian culture, largely stemming from the fact that one of their most important goddesses, Bastet, was half cat, half woman. Bastet represented playfulness, grace, affection, cunning, and fierceness.5 The center of the worship of Bastet is at her temple in Bubastis.6 Although there were other feline goddesses in Ancient Egyptian culture, Bastet was the only one depicted as a domesticated cat.7 Because of Bastet’s importance in spiritual life, cats enjoyed protection and privilege in everyday Egyptian life.
Diodorus Siculus, a Greek historian from the first century B.C.E., stated, “Whoever kills a cat in Egypt is condemned to death, whether he committed this crime deliberately or not. The people gather and kill him. An unfortunate Roman, who accidentally killed a cat, could not be saved, either by King Ptolemy of Egypt or by the fear which Rome inspired.” The exportation of cats was also illegal, and traders sometimes illegally smuggled cats out of Egypt to sell elsewhere.
Archeologists have found a plethora of cat statuettes adorned with gold jewelry in Ancient Egyptian human tombs. Upon death, cats were also mummified and were placed in a tomb with mice, rats, and saucers of milk. Bubastis is estimated to contain around 300,000 cat mummies.8
The Mongols and Horses
“It is not possible to imagine Mongolian history without horses,” stated J. Tserendeleg, president of the Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment. Indeed, the spread and maintenance of the Mongolian Empire was largely due to the use of horses. 9 At its biggest, the Mongolian Empire stretched from Korea to Hungary and from Russia to Vietnam.10
Horses’ speed and strength gave the Mongols a large advantage in warfare, especially against sedentary, agricultural communities. Mongols were accustomed to long rides and rubbed their saddles with sheep’s fat to make the weight more bearable for their horses. A soldier often had three or four horses, to ensure that each horse got ample rest. During combat, the Mongols covered their horses with leather and armor. While Mongol horses were small, they were adept at covering rugged terrain and did not require a great deal of food to survive.11
Horses also had spiritual significance in Mongolian culture. Before military expeditions, commanders scattered horse milk on the ground to guarantee victory. Horses were also sacrificed to provide transport to the afterlife. When Genghis Khan was buried in 1227, it is said that forty horses were sacrificed at his tomb.12
These are just three examples of the complex and important relationships that humans have developed with other animals over time. These animals have often been our trusted allies, our sources of joy, and the focus of our curiosity and imagination.
