The pantheon of the Egyptians consisted of numerous deities, but Bastet was given the primary position. She was portrayed to possess a cat-head, because of which Egyptians placed cats in a place of reverence. As decades passed by, her clothing underwent a constant change so that its portrayal also kept changing.
The original picture of this god showed the formidable form of a lioness. But later, with the domestication of cats as the Egyptian people started liking them, this deity was rendered to show a cat-headed lady instead of the formidable lioness.
The people built a temple called Bubastis in reverence of Bastet. Within this temple were many statues that were supposed to represent the cat headed goddess. It is by analyzing these statues that historians have been capable of getting an idea of the kind of clothing that the deity was considered to wear.
Most of the statues depict her as a cat headed woman although there are some exceptions in which she is depicted as a leopard and in some older statues as a lion. The trademark statue had the head of a cat upon a body of a youthful woman.
The clothing of the deity was decorative with many stylish features added to make it intricate. A small purse carried by her adorned many of the sculpted images, whereas a few others portrayed her holding a musical instrument namely, the Sistrum in one of her arms whereas, she has a tender basket worn on the other arm.
There was a breastplate to decorate her attire in the center. It was an Egyptian myth that dance and music were favorites of this goddess, and she was said to be rich and possessing generosity. The basket hung over her arm was actually ascribed to rich harvest.
As a sign of respect, many cats were allowed to live in the temple dedicated to her. A huge number of mummified bodies of cats have been unearthed by archaeologists in the Bubastis temple. Cats which lived in domesticity in Egypt were buried in this temple.
The People would keep statues of the deity in her trademark clothing and attire made from bronze as a token of good luck. They would also leave offerings in the form of these bronze statues at the site of the temple which is why archeologists have found thousands of bronze statues at the site.
As Bastet is held in high position being a deity, cats were also highly respected by Egyptians. Laws to particularly make sure the safety of cats had been put to practice. Persons indulging in harmful activities with an intention to hurt cats were liable to be punished without a doubt. Moreover, Egyptian people performed customary rituals during the burial ceremony of a tamed cat.
The original picture of this god showed the formidable form of a lioness. But later, with the domestication of cats as the Egyptian people started liking them, this deity was rendered to show a cat-headed lady instead of the formidable lioness.
The people built a temple called Bubastis in reverence of Bastet. Within this temple were many statues that were supposed to represent the cat headed goddess. It is by analyzing these statues that historians have been capable of getting an idea of the kind of clothing that the deity was considered to wear.
Most of the statues depict her as a cat headed woman although there are some exceptions in which she is depicted as a leopard and in some older statues as a lion. The trademark statue had the head of a cat upon a body of a youthful woman.
The clothing of the deity was decorative with many stylish features added to make it intricate. A small purse carried by her adorned many of the sculpted images, whereas a few others portrayed her holding a musical instrument namely, the Sistrum in one of her arms whereas, she has a tender basket worn on the other arm.
There was a breastplate to decorate her attire in the center. It was an Egyptian myth that dance and music were favorites of this goddess, and she was said to be rich and possessing generosity. The basket hung over her arm was actually ascribed to rich harvest.
As a sign of respect, many cats were allowed to live in the temple dedicated to her. A huge number of mummified bodies of cats have been unearthed by archaeologists in the Bubastis temple. Cats which lived in domesticity in Egypt were buried in this temple.
The People would keep statues of the deity in her trademark clothing and attire made from bronze as a token of good luck. They would also leave offerings in the form of these bronze statues at the site of the temple which is why archeologists have found thousands of bronze statues at the site.
As Bastet is held in high position being a deity, cats were also highly respected by Egyptians. Laws to particularly make sure the safety of cats had been put to practice. Persons indulging in harmful activities with an intention to hurt cats were liable to be punished without a doubt. Moreover, Egyptian people performed customary rituals during the burial ceremony of a tamed cat.
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