The pantheon of the Egyptians consisted of numerous deities, but Bastet was given the chief position. She was portrayed to possess a cat-head, due to 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.
Originally this deity was depicted as a fierce lioness. However with the passage of time the Egyptians developed a love for cats and since these cats were domesticated the depiction of their god changed from a fierce lioness to that of a cat headed woman.
The people built a temple called Bubastis in reverence of Bastet. Within this temple were hundreds of statues which were meant to represent the cat headed goddess. It is by analyzing these statues that historians have been capable of getting an idea of the type of clothing that the deity was considered to wear.
The majority of the statues depict her as a cat headed woman although there are a few 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 several of the sculpted images, whereas some 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 having generosity. The basket hung over her arm was actually related to rich harvest.
The reverence ascribed to cats caused many living cats to adorn the temple dedicated to this goddess. Plenty of cat-bodies that have undergone mummification formed a major part of the archaeological discoveries in the temple of Bubastis. Tamed cats of Egyptian households were buried in Bubastis.
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 numerous bronze statues at the site.
Cats attained a unique place amongst the Egyptians on account of Bastet. There were special laws in place that protected cats. Any person who would intentionally harm a cat was to be punished and similarly they had elaborate burial rituals for when a domesticated cat died in a family.
Originally this deity was depicted as a fierce lioness. However with the passage of time the Egyptians developed a love for cats and since these cats were domesticated the depiction of their god changed from a fierce lioness to that of a cat headed woman.
The people built a temple called Bubastis in reverence of Bastet. Within this temple were hundreds of statues which were meant to represent the cat headed goddess. It is by analyzing these statues that historians have been capable of getting an idea of the type of clothing that the deity was considered to wear.
The majority of the statues depict her as a cat headed woman although there are a few 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 several of the sculpted images, whereas some 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 having generosity. The basket hung over her arm was actually related to rich harvest.
The reverence ascribed to cats caused many living cats to adorn the temple dedicated to this goddess. Plenty of cat-bodies that have undergone mummification formed a major part of the archaeological discoveries in the temple of Bubastis. Tamed cats of Egyptian households were buried in Bubastis.
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 numerous bronze statues at the site.
Cats attained a unique place amongst the Egyptians on account of Bastet. There were special laws in place that protected cats. Any person who would intentionally harm a cat was to be punished and similarly they had elaborate burial rituals for when a domesticated cat died in a family.
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