mythicalcats

[mythicalcats]

The Sacred Cats of Ancient Egypt

The intention of this exhibition is to depict the historical, religious, and domestic significance of cats in ancient Egypt. This animal served many purposes in ancient Egyptian life and its integration can be seen through amulets, rings, statues, paintings, and coffins. The items in this exhibition date to ancient Egypt’s Third Intermediate and Late Periods, which roughly ranges from 1100 BC to 300 BC. Most of the evidence of the adoration, domestication, and mummification of cats comes from Egypt’s lower region. The sacred image of the cat derives from the anthropomorphic depiction of Egyptian deities Bastet and Sehkmet.

[mythicalcats]

Bastet and Sekhmet

Bastet is an anthropomorphic deity with the body of a woman and the head of a cat. Ancient Egyptians believed that household cats were manifestations of Bastet, who was the goddess of protection, pleasure, and good health because cats protected their owners from predators and diseases (Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum). Bastet is the sister to Sekhmet, another deity depicted with the body of a woman and a head of a lion. Sekhmet is the goddess of the sun, plague, chaos, war and healing. She is also the protector of the pharaohs and would lead them in warfare, yet when she was in a calmer state she would transform into Bastet (Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum). Ancient Egyptians would whisper their prayers into the ears of cat mummies and offer them to Sekhmet, this was believed to be a direct connection to the deities and their prayers would be answered (Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum).

[mythicalcats]

Wedjat Eye Amulet

Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate Period, 1070 - 664 B.C.

Purchase, 1926

This amulet combines the wedjat eye with a wing, two uraei, and a lion alluding to various ancient Egyptian stories that involve the eye of the Sungod Re. Wejat eye amulets were among the most popular amulets of ancient Egypt representing the healed eye of the god Horus and embodies healing power as well as regeneration and protection.

[mythicalcats]

Mould 

Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664 - 332 B.C. 

4cm x 4cm

Gifted, 1907-08 

Clay mold that contains a hollow of a seated cat. The mold is lined with traces of glazed composition paste. Made for mass-producing amulets, rings or small figurines in glazed composition. It is unknown if cat amulets were produced to depict Bastet’s sacred animal, or the Goddess herself in the form of a cat.

[mythicalcats]

The Domestication of Cats

Cats were introduced into Egyptian households because they protected humans from snakes and scorpions, and kept granaries and homes free of mice, and rats, which prevented the spread of disease (The British Museum). Cats also acted as human companions to their owners. Tomb paintings often depicted cats sitting by their owners, oftentimes with food nearby (The British Museum).

[mythicalcats]

Ring with Cat and Kittens

Ancient Egypt, Ramesside/ Third Intermediate Period, 1295 - 664 B.C.

1.6cm x 1.3cm x 1.7cm

Purchase, 2017

This ring depicts a cat and its kittens that are perched above a bound bundle of flowering papyrus, which is designed to represent a marsh. These elements represent the myth of the “Faraway Goddess”, a story in which a feline deity must be coaxed back to the Nile Valley after she flees into the Nubian desert. Carved faience rings typically date to this period when faience craftsmanship was at its peak. Such rings were most likely created to celebrate festivals that were held in honor of the deities depicted on the rings.

[mythicalcats]

Bust of the Goddess Sakhmet

Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 1390 - 1352 B.C.E

Gifted, 1991 

Lower part of the statue is broken off, with proper left and right sides below the shoulder and elbow preserved. The front and upper-side of the uraeus is missing and other damages include chipping scratches, and abrasions.  

The Goddess Sakhmet, also known as “The Powerful One” wears a sun-disk and cobra on her brow identifying her as the daughter of the Sun God Re giving her the role of the Eye of Re. She also wears a tripartite wig, broad collar necklace, and a dress with straps decorated with rosettes over each breast. In her role as eye of re, she was called across Egypt to destroy Egypt’s enemies. When Re called on another goddess in her place while she was away Sakhmet refused to return to Egypt unless gifted with wine, music, and dance. Sakhmet also represented the annual motion of the sun known as the eye’s departure and return as well as natural phenomena like the Nile’s annual flood and Egyptian new year.

[mythicalcats]

Cat Mummification

Given as offerings to Bastet. Cats were often bred in large numbers, so worshippers of Bastet could prove their loyalty and devotion by paying for a cat’s ceremonial burial (The British Museum). Sometimes placed in tombs with their owners, it was a belief that placing cats and their owners in the same tomb would pair them together in the afterlife (Carnegie Museum of Natural History).

[mythicalcats]

The Gayer-Anderson Cat

Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 600 B.C.

42cm x 20cm x 30.5cm

A large crack in the body of the statue was repaired, and a metal cylinder was placed inside of the head to keep the statue in one piece. The cat was then covered in green paint to disguise its restorations.

Donation, 1939

Hollow-cast bronze figure of a seated cat with incised detail, an inlaid sun-disc and wedjat-eye pectoral on the chest and golden earrings and nose-rings; tangs beneath. This figure depicts one form of the goddess Bastet, and most likely came from a temple. The scarab beetle on the head and chest represent rebirth, while the silver wedjat-eye on the pectoral symbolizes protection and healing.

[mythicalcats]

Cat Statue Intended to Contain a Mummified Cat

Ancient Egypt, Ptolemaic Period, 332 - 30 B.C. 

32cm x 11.9 cm x 23.3 cm

Pierced right ear once held gold ring (ring is now lost)

This statue was the container to a mummified cat. In the Middle Kingdom cats were domesticated for their mouse hunting abilities, and by the New Kingdom they became house companions. Cats were believed to give good luck to their owners and represented the goddess Bastet, many were mummified in her honor and donated to her temple. Cats would also be seen in their owners’ tombs, seated beneath the chairs of their owners or in a wall painting scene where they flush out birds for their masters in the afterlife.

[mythicalcats]

Our mission is to depict the historical presence of cats in Ancient Egypt, we strive to emphasize the religious and domestic significance of this animal through the artifacts featured in this exhibition. We want to create an educational, engaging, and visually stimulating experience for all of our curious visitors.

Mythical Cats Mission Statement 

We strive to create an educational, engaging, and visually stimulating experience for all our visitors. Our intention is to educate the public, to the best of our ability, by displaying each object accurately and respectfully. Because this exhibition was made available on an online platform, our exhibition is accessible to all regardless of sex, age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, educational level or political affiliation. We understand that the artifacts featured in this collection may provoke intriguing questions or controversial discussions. Questions regarding the discovery, provenance and ownership of these items may come up as you view this exhibition. We do not claim ownership to any of the materials exhibited, we are simply presenting them for educational purposes. We welcome these thought-provoking conversations as a chance to understand and give a voice to differing perspectives.