Abstract
For many, cats are loyal companions and pets, and have been for centuries. Often associated with Ancient Egypt, cats are revered for their hunting capabilities and their fertility. Ancient Egyptians worshipped many divine beings, often those having animal qualities to make them appear larger than life. Cats are no exception. Bastet is one of the Ancient Egyptian goddesses that were worshipped and seen as the patron for children, childbirth, women, the home, fertility, and domesticity. This paper explores her iconography and how she was portrayed throughout Ancient Egyptian history (roughly 3150 BCE - 30 BCE) through three-dimensional works such as sculptures, figurines, and relief carvings. In the earlier years, she was depicted as a lion headed goddess however as time progressed, her portrayal shifted to that of a domesticated house cat, often in a rigid seated position or as a mother with her kittens. This paper examines how Bastet had influenced those who worshipped her, the extent of the Egyptian culture it impacted, and the connection to the Greek goddess, Artemis, with whom she is commonly associated.
How to Cite
Vasold, L., (2022) “The Divine Feline of Ancient Egypt: Progression of Bastet’s Iconography in Two and Three-Dimensional Works”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 35(1).
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