News — Bastet Cat

Ancient Egypt was cat country. The fertile Nile Valley and the arid surrounding desert were home to no less than seven species of cat, ranging from big cats like the great lion to the small desert cat that came to live with humans thousands of years ago. Cats, big and small, became an important part of daily life and religion in ancient Egypt.  Ancient Egyptians loved animals and kept many different species of cats. Lions were the companions of kings; nobles hunted with servals, caracals and cheetahs, while leopard skins clothed lector priests. Families viewed their cats as an essential...

The cat was sacred in ancient Egypt. Admired for its virility, strength and agility, it was also the symbol of Bastet, the benevolent cat goddess who represented motherhood and joy.  The goddess Bastet is seen as a symbol of protection from both evil spirits and disease - particularly diseases associated with women and children. She also has an important role in the afterlife, according to Egyptian beliefs, and is the one who guides and helps the dead. Since the earliest recorded centuries, the Bastet cat was viewed as a bestower of fertility and protection against dark forces. Even now, the...