The Cat Bastet

The Cat goddess Bastet

As gentle as she was known for her terrible wrath, protector of humanity and homes, Bastet was, for the Egyptians, the musician goddess of joy, fertility and childbirth. Frequently depicted in two different ways - as a goddess with the body of a woman and the head of a cat, or simply in the form of a cat - she was the object of a veritable cult in the first millennium BC. Believers wishing to curry her favor placed numerous small figurines representing her in temples.

This one is no exception: carved from bronze, this delicate statuette represents Bastet in her animal form. The sculptor who created it went straight to the essentials: the silhouette is slender and sleek, and there are few eye-catching details.

All that remains is a ring on the cat's right ear, while a usekh (or ousekh) has been engraved on her neck and chest. This wide necklace, favored by the ancient Egyptian elite, accessorized both men and women, as well as divinities.

Did you know ?

The goddess Bastet is appreciated as the protector of humans, joy and childbirth. Initially, Bastet was venerated as the goddess of war and the hunt, often depicted with ferocious features. However, from the 20th dynasty onwards (circa 1200 BC), she was gradually transformed into a gentler goddess, linked to fertility, music and love, while retaining her connection with protection and the family.