And it was not only people, they also mummified all sorts of animals – from cows and crocodiles to scorpions and insects. Certain cities were devoted to specific animals. So when an Egyptian cat died, it might be brought to one of the cities devoted to cats, where it would be prepared for the afterworld.
In 1888, an estimated 300,000 mummified cats were found at Beni Hassan. They were promptly scooped up with tractors, sold at the price of $18.43 per ton, and shipped to England where they were ground up for fertilizer.
Source:
Stephens, John Richard. “Ignorance & Intelligence.” Weird History 101: Tales of Intrigue, Mayhem, and Outrageous Behavior. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2006. 115. Print.
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