The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

May 30, 2009

May 30, 1778

May 30, 1778 is the date of Voltaire's death. We glimpse from his book: "In Defense of My Uncle," how the 18th century French viewed Egyptian history:

"Nothing was ever more contemptible than the superstition of this people...Cleopatra was no more concerned about [the worship of cats]... than Herod was about those [superstitions] of Judea.
Diodorus Auletes relates that he saw [Egyptians] massacre a Roman who casually killed a cat. The death of this Roman was well avenged when the Romans governed...Nothing now remains of those unfortunate priests but their memory which must be forever odious."
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