Cat Goddess Research Paper

Bast Egyptian goddess known as, cat goddess symbolizes playfulness, grace, affection and cunning of a cat, as well as the fierce power of a lioness. She is often shown holding the Ankh which represents the breath of life, she occasionally wears a scepter. A scepter is used as a symbol of sovereignty. Her cult was centered on her temple at Bubastis. Hers are the lion, cat and the sistrum. She is the goddess of warfare in lower Egygpt, the Nile river delta region, before unification of cultures of ancient Egypt.

Her cult was centered on her temple at Bubastis. Her name translated is “Devouring lady”. She has siblings named Tefnut, Shu, Serket, Hathor, Horus, Sekhment, Anhur; Ammut and Hoth. Often accompined by a litter of kittens since cats were sacred to Bast, to harm one was considered a crime against her and was very unlucky. They are the incarnations of the goddess and are to be mummified when they die and could be presented to her as an offering. Ancient Egyptians placed great value on cats because they protected crops, and slowed the spread of disease by killing vermin. Bast was seen as a protective goddess.

As daughter of Ra she was known as the “eye of Ra” a fierce protector who almost destroyed mankind but was tricked with blood-colored beer that put her to sleep and gave her a hangover, stopping the carnage.

By night bastet would transform herself into a cat to guard her father from Apep or Apophis a serpent who was her father’s greatest enemy. With her cat eyes shining in the dark, she managed to kill the evil serpent. Credited for killing the serpent, bast ensured the warmth of the sun would continue to bless the delta of the nile with fertile soil and honored as goddess of fertility. Bast is one of the few sun goddesses that is also called a moon goddess , with her cat eyes reminding us of the moon that it