Cats were sacred to Bastet, a sun goddess who represents the warm,
life giving power of the sun. She was known as the goddess of joy
and protector of women. She is usually represented as a lion or
cat-headed figure. In the New Kingdom, the male cat was regarded as a
n incarnation of the Sun God and the female cat was equated with the
solar eye. Feline figures may display a scarab, the symbol of the
rising sun, engraved on the head or breast thus showing their solar
significance. Hundreds of figures were set up as votive offerings in
the temple of Bastet at Bubastis in order that the donor might share
in the Goddess's grace. Actual mummies of cats were buried by the
thousands in special cemeteries in the area. Cats protected the
temples from snakes. The ancient Egyptians held cats in the highest
esteem and the penalties for injuring or killing a cat were very
severe.

Product SKU: E-328KP