Sacred Cats of Ancient Egypt: Deities, Mummies, and Symbolism
Ancient Egyptians revered cats in various forms, from domestic pets to deities like Bastet and Sekhmet. Cats were seen as protectors against pests and symbols of royal power, with the penalty for harming a cat being death. The Gayer-Anderson Cat, a bronze figure from ca. 600 BCE, is a notable depiction of Bastet. Cat mummies were dedicated to Bastet at Bubastis, and mourners shaved their eyebrows when a cat died. The article explores feline deities, including Ra taking the form of a giant cat to battle the serpent Apophis, and the roles of Bastet, Sekhmet, and other cat-headed gods. Cats were also mummified and buried with owners for afterlife protection.
Key facts
- Cats were revered in Ancient Egypt as protectors and symbols of power.
- The penalty for harming a cat was death.
- The Gayer-Anderson Cat is a bronze figure from ca. 600 BCE.
- Cat mummies were dedicated to Bastet at Bubastis.
- Mourners shaved their eyebrows when a family cat died.
- Ra took the form of a giant cat to battle Apophis.
- Bastet evolved from a lioness warrior to a domestic cat goddess.
- Sekhmet was a fearsome lioness goddess and protector of Pharaohs.
Entities
Locations
- Ancient Egypt
- North Africa
- Near East
- Cyprus
- Bubastis
- Lower Egypt
- Upper Egypt