She is a feline goddess, daughter of the sun god “Ra”. Bastet was
originally a lion goddess, but after 1000 B.C. as her cult developed,
she became more associated with the cat and was considered to be the
center counterpart of the lion goddess Sekhmet. Cats could be
observed skilfully hunting and catching snakes, which had special
relevance for the Egyptians since the snake was the symbol of Apophis,
the demonic enemy of the sun god Ra. So cats became animals sacred
to the solar deity. Bastet was especially worshipped at her temple
at Bubastis (“the house of Bastet”). As a sun goddess, Bastet was
the goddess of plenty and the mistress of pleasure. The celebrating
of her festivals were renowned for being the most lavish of all the
gods of Egypt. Bastet was also associated with the moon and in myth
became the eye of the moon. The Greeks associated her with the Greek
goddess Artemis. She is usually depicted as a cat-headed woman. In
one hand she holds either a sistrum, a kind of musical rattle, or an
aegis, in her other hand she often carries a basket.


 

Product SKU: E-058S