Bastet

Origin: Ancient Egyptian mythology

Combination: human + cat

Classification: Mammal

Other Names: Bast, Ubasti, Lady of the East, Goddess of the Rising Sun, the Sacred and All-Seeing Eye

Associations: protection, fertility, felines, Sekhmet

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Bastet is an ancient Egyptian goddess depicted with the body of a human and the head of a cat. She is the goddess of pleasure, protection, and the bringer of good health. According to myth, Bastet was the sister of Sekhmet, the wife of Ptah, and the mother of Mihos. She was believed to ride through the sky with her father, the sun god Ra, each day and turn into a cat by night to protect Ra from his great enemy, the serpent Apep. Cats were considered sacred animals akin to demi-gods in Anicent Egypt, particularly since they protected crops and slowed the spread of disease by killing rodents.

 

Bastet was highly revered in Egyptian society and was associated with nurturing and maternal qualities. She was believed to safeguard households and bring good fortune to her worshippers. Bastet is often depicted with a gentle demeanor, representing the domesticated and protective aspects of feline nature.