Bastet

From ArchaeoWiki

Bastet was a prominent ancient Egyptian cat or cat-headed goddess, closely associated with the eastern Delta city of Bubastis (Tell Basta). Originally a leonine deity of fierce temperament, Bastet's feline aspect appears to have represented a milder, more approachable nature; though it seems both extremes of her personality seem to have been attributed simultaneously.

Origins

Mythology

Forms and Iconography

The earliest known depictions of Bastet date to the period of the Second Dynasty, the goddess finding representation as a female anthopomorphic figure with the head of a lioness. The received depiction of the goddess gradually changed, however, apparently as her personality became more differentiated from other female leonine deities, such as Sekhmet; in place of their fierce appearance and character, Bastet offered a milder, more 'domesticated' alternative. From the Middle Kingdom period onwards, then, Bastet became associated with the figure of the house cat. Some element of fierceness was nonetheless retained: in fully feline form as the "cat of Re", Bastet could be depicted as a cat beheading the Apophis serpent with a knife. After the end of the New Kingdom, however, the default depiction of the goddess was as a cat-headed female figure.

Bronze statue of the goddess Bastet, holding sistrum and aegis, and with four kittens at her feet. Height: 27 cm. British Museum EA 25565

Alongside this 'classic' depiction that held throughout the goddess' periods of greatest popularity in the Late and Ptolemaic Periods, Bastet was closely associated with the ritual menat-necklace. Similarly, sistra closely invoked the cat goddess: Bastet was frequently depicted as holding a sistrum (also closely associated with the goddess Hathor), while sistra were occasionally decorated with feline images. Amongst Late Period amulets, though often uninscribed, many feline amulets appear to portray Bastet, particularly in those examples where the figure holds a sistrum, menat-necklace, papyrus sceptre or udjat-eye. Bronze statues of the goddess frequently display a small group of kittens at the feet of Bastet.

Cult and Worship

Bibliography

• Van Siclen III, Charles C. [1994], "Nectanebo II's Great Naos for Bastet", in Bryan, Betsy M. and Lorton, David (eds), Essays in Egyptology in honor of Hans Goedicke, San Antonio: Van Siclen Books, 1994, pp.321-332. ISBN 0933175310