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Bastet
Goddess in ancient Egyptian religion, with powers devoted to love and fertility.
Bastet was represented in the early periods as a lioness, but this changed later to a woman with the head of a cat. In the latter representation she carries a percussion instrument in her right hand, and a breastplate in her right hand.
Bastet was also associated with the goddess Hathor, and Hathor could use Bastet as a manifestation.
She had cult centres in only a few places in Egypt, the most important one being at Bubastis. In Bubastis there was an annual festival for her in which hundreds of thousands of participants could get drunk and have free sex.
In many cases she was worshipped through popular expressions: Mummified cats were buried in specific cemeteries, and cat statuettes were used at votive offerings, while cat amulets were carried by people for good luck.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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