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Bastet Egyptian Cat Sculpture Statue
Item No. 3099BP
Reproduction after Museum Original from the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. 550 B.C.
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 an 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.
Made of cast stone with Bronze Finish
Dimensions: 12"High (30cm)
Weight: 9 lbs
$49.99
Item No. 3099BP
Reproduction after Museum Original from the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. 550 B.C.
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 an 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.
Made of cast stone with Bronze Finish
Dimensions: 12"High (30cm)
Weight: 9 lbs
$49.99
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