The Oldest Gods?
Every day, new discoveries challenge our concepts of Early Man. Far from the thick skulled brute of pop culture,
Neanderthals existed with modern humans (aka Cro-Magnons) for thousands of years. We've learned that early humans wove
baskets and clothing, created musical instruments, mined for metals and ochre, had tattoos, had burial rites, and much more.
One of the earliest representational statues ever found is that of a therianthropic lion-human. At least two lowenmensch
figures have been found in Holle, Germany since 1931. Experts believe there may once have been hundreds of these
statues. Perhaps these once represented the male principle just as the famous prehistoric Venus figurines represented
the feminine principle.
Whether the lowenmensch reflect a shamanic connection with the lion or was an early lion-headed god, we may never
know. Many lion drawings grace the walls and ceilings of Chauvet and other prehistoric galleries. The image of
the lion, its power and strength, has been with us since our beginnings.
"Baby" in the Jean M. Aeul Clan of the Cave Bear series aside, cave lions were never pets. 11 and a half foot
long carnivores were meant to be worshipped from afar. But how about smaller cats? Did our ancestors of 35,000
years ago keep pet cats?
While bones of small wild cats have been found at prehistoric sites, whether the cats were meals or not is debatable.
If mice or other vermin were getting into the stored food, I have no doubt that smaller felines started to get somewhat chummy
- and tolerated - by the humans. The revolution in cat-human relationship probably occurred in agricultural times.
By 11,000-10,000 years ago, cats began to be pets.
