PHARAOH ramesses ii & His big Cats

The lion’s share of Egyptian royal love and affection

Ramesses II owned a variety of different exotic animals but in particular he was supposedly fond of cats.

The pharaoh had a number of lions and cheetahs that roamed his palace. Of course, this is not that surprising considering how cats were seen to be sacred animals in Ancient Egyptian society. Interestingly, while the Ancient Egyptians saw lions as big cats, they actually saw cheetahs as the smaller cats!

However, Ramesses’ pet lion is the one that is commonly associated with him. The lion was not just a pet to the pharaoh but a symbol of status and power. He reportedly brought his pet with him to the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites, where the lion bravely stood by his master’s side during the fight. It is this image of the pharaoh and his lion that is commonly depicted in artwork of the famous battle.