Bastet

home, joy and protection

Bastet protects home and family and stands for joy, music and fertility.

💡 Did you know? In her honour the Egyptians held cats sacred: killing one could be punished by death.

as a cat

Bastet appears as a cat or a woman with a cat's head; early on she was a dangerous lioness.

💡 Did you know? In the city of Bubastis, vast cemeteries of embalmed cat mummies were found.

for exuberant festivals

In Bubastis, Bastet was celebrated with music, dance and wine: one of Egypt's greatest festivals.

💡 Did you know? The Greek Herodotus reported that more wine flowed there than in the whole rest of the year.

as a fierce lioness

Originally Bastet was a dangerous lioness goddess before she became the gentle cat.

💡 Did you know? In her fierce form she merged with the wrathful lioness Sekhmet.

mummified cats

In Bubastis countless cats were buried as offerings to Bastet.

💡 Did you know? In the 19th century tonnes of cat mummies were shipped to Europe: some used as fertiliser.

from evil spirits and sickness

As protector of the home, Bastet warded off harm, snakes and sickness.

💡 Did you know? Amulets in her cat form were worn to protect mothers and children.