Turkish scientists studied the skeletons of cats Byzantine era, discovered in the excavations for laying the metro line Marmaray under the historical centre of Istanbul, according to Turkish publication Hurriyet.
Osteoarchaeology veterinary Department of the Cerrahpasa medical faculty of Istanbul University Vedat Onar, examining him given to the examination of the skeletons, came to the conclusion that cats in Constantinople since the Byzantine Empire was in good shape, unlike those who lived in those years in Europe. Their skeletons are no signs of injury or violent death.
According to the head of the Department of veterinary history and deontology, veterinary faculty, Istanbul University Altana Arataca, in the Byzantine period, many cats are not needed in search of food, as we lived near the fish shops located in the districts of Kumkapi, yenikapi, Aksaray in the current historical center of Istanbul.
Turkish scholars attribute this attitude to cats the influence of Islam (as it is known, after the defeat of Byzantine forces at the battle of Manzikert in 1071 a large part of Asia Minor was soon conquered by the Turkic tribes, and before that the Mediterranean part of Asia Minor came under a strong Arabic influence). In Islam cats was always respectful. Even the prophet Muhammad had a favorite cat named Muezza.
meanwhile, reminiscent of scientists in medieval Europe, cats were considered minions of Satan, which suffered greatly and were even persecuted by the Church. The result was a decline in the population of cats in Europe, and as a result, the abundance of rats that spread the plague.
