The enchanting and at times exotic nature of ancient Egyptian religious practices is epitomized by the feline goddess Bastet. She frequently appears in museums and exhibitions as a seated feline figure adorned with various divine symbols, such as a scarab atop her head. In a strikingly still yet observant posture similar to real cats, the captivating goddess Bastet represents an ancient world filled with mystical beliefs.
Bastet: The Lioness and Cat
Bubastis, a prominent city in the southeastern Nile Delta, serves as the primary center for Bastet’s worship. However, the earliest references to her can be traced back to the galleries under the iconic step pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, located near Memphis. Excavations have unearthed numerous stone vessel fragments from 2nd dynasty burials (circa 2800 BCE), with some inscriptions mentioning deities, including depictions of Bastet as a female with a lioness’s head, as well as priests and a probable cult site in Memphis. It’s possible that Bastet was initially a deity associated with the royal court, and her name may derive from the term for the ointment jar b#s.t., linking her to royal insignia. This connection would have aligned her powerful lioness form with the protective ideology of royalty.
Temple of Bastet in Bubastis
The oldest known reference to Bastet at Bubastis originates during the reign of Pepi I of the 6th dynasty (around 2270 BCE). Evidence comes in the form of a decorated door lintel found at the king’s Ka-temple, depicting both Bastet and Hathor. Here, Bastet is again represented as an anthropomorphic female with a lioness’s head. Additionally, tomb stelas from Bubastis’s elite cemetery from this period provide evidence of temple administrators, suggesting that a temple and cult dedicated to her were established by the end of the Old Kingdom.
The transition of Bastet’s worship from the early dynastic center at Memphis to Bubastis remains unclear. One theory posits that during the early 3rd millennium, prides of lions roamed the semi-desert fringes of the Delta. The Wadi Tumilat, with its seasonal lake, served as an ideal habitat for these animals. At the time, the Delta was home to significant cattle herds, essential for a burgeoning centralized state and an appealing hunting territory for lions. The Egyptians would have witnessed the majestic hunting prowess of lions and lionesses, which likely paved the way for their reverence of these compelling creatures.
Evolution of Bastet’s Imagery
From her earliest representations through to the New Kingdom, Bastet is predominantly depicted as a lioness. Her well-known association with domestic cats is a later evolution that signifies gradual shifts in religious beliefs throughout ancient Egyptian history. The dual imagery of Bastet as both a lioness and a domestic cat often intertwines her with Sekhmet, another prominent lioness goddess. This dual focus on her character is echoed in earlier texts, with a “Loyalist teaching” from the 12th dynasty illustrating the king’s essence as both Bastet, protector of the land, and Sekhmet, punisher of transgressors.
Over time, the more nurturing and approachable attributes of a cat came to symbolize a gentler aspect of Bastet, leading to her eventual representation as a domestic feline that posed less threat than her lioness counterpart. Interestingly, the Middle Kingdom marks the first time in which felines, still reminiscent of their wild ancestors, are depicted as household pets in tomb artwork.
As the New Kingdom progressed, the popularity of the Bastet cult surged, particularly during the 1st millennium BCE when its influence stretched beyond Egypt and into the Mediterranean realm. The temples of Bastet found in Sakkara and Alexandria stand testament to this increasingly broad and diverse following.
Festival of Bastet at Bubastis: A Celebration of Fertility
Around 450 BCE, the Greek historian Herodotus offered an account of the temple and the associated festivities dedicated to Bastet. He described the grand celebration that took place in Bubastis, where large groups of men and women would sail together, engaging in singing and dancing while playing musical instruments. These boaters would halt at various cities along the route to perform lively antics and celebrate, ultimately arriving in Bubastis for a festival characterized by immense sacrifices and wine consumption, reportedly surpassing all other occasions throughout the year. The locals claimed that as many as seventy thousand people, including children, gathered annually for this event.
Scholarly interpretations frequently connect the ecstatic nature of these festivities to the reproductive cycles of cats, particularly their vivid behaviors during mating seasons. Such observations likely led participants to explore the themes of fertility and revelry in their own lives. Documentation indicates that intoxication and displays of free-spirited behavior were common, representing a deliberate break from social norms, which was thought to bring favor from the goddesses who embodied ferocity, such as Bastet and Sekhmet.
The Dual Nature of Lioness Goddesses
Lioness deities were perceived as both fearsome and unpredictable, yet simultaneously caring and ferocious. They were often linked with the sun god Ra, referred to as either his “Daughter” or the “Eye of Ra.” The “Myth of the Eye of Ra” extends insights into the dual nature of these goddesses: it shares the tale of Ra’s daughter dwelling as a mighty lioness in the desolate regions far south of Egypt, furious with her father for reasons unknown, haunting the deserts with her presence. In response, Ra dispatches Thot to rescue her—a daunting endeavor requiring not only calming her anger but also ensuring her happiness along the journey. Thot adopts the amiable guise of a baboon, employing music, dance, and alcohol to pacify the lioness.
This narrative resonates with the Bubastis festival activites, where merriment and celebrations of music and dance marked the honoring of the goddess, who reveled in similar opulence. A unique local event detailed in Papyrus Brooklyn 47.218 narrates how Bastet saved Horus’s eye from Seth during a nautical escapade on the sacred canals surrounding her temple, illustrating her triumph.
The procession of sacred statues in boats during religious celebrations was a common feature in ancient Egyptian customs, and one can easily envision the spectacle of Bastet’s sacred barque navigating the Isheru as the zenith of a festival eagerly anticipated by the multitude of pilgrims journeying to honor her each year.
