Ancient Egyptian Art A Visual Analysis Of Bastet And The...

Cats in Ancient Egyptian Art: A Visual Analysis of Bastet and the Menat of Taharqo: the King Being Nursed by the Lion-Headed Goddess Bastet The ancient Egyptians are known for their fondness for animals, and the cat was a favorite household companion. Cats were common in ancient Egyptian art that depicted domestic scenes since they were greatly appreciated as killers of rodents, snakes, scorpions, ect. Typically homes with cats had less sickness, and fewer deaths. But beyond these roles, cats were cherished as pets and even worshipped. The ancient Egyptians revered and worshipped many animals, just as other ancient civilizations did, but none were worshipped as reverently as the cat. This essay will carefully analyze the Egyptian relief†¦show more content†¦Naturally, cats were sacred to Bastet, and to harm one was unlucky and a crime against her. Bastet’s priests kept sacred cats in her temple, which were thought to be incarnations of the goddess. When a cat died, they were mummified and would be presented to the goddess as an offering, sometimes in carved cat shaped vessels. This rich history inspired renditions of the goddess in many styles and forms. The two major works that will be focused on here are the Egyptian relief necklace charm of Menat of Taharqo: the King Being Nursed by the Lion-Headed Goddess Bastet and the Egyptian free standing Statuette Bastet. Both works are on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (aslo known as â€Å"The MET†) Starting with Bastet, this free-standing statue hails from Late –Ptolemaic Period (664–30 B.C) from Egypt. Medium used was bronze, precious metal and black bronze inlays. The dimensions are H. 5 cm (4 1/8 in.); W. 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.); D. 3.9 cm (1 9/16 in.). This statuette was donated to the Museum by George and Florence Blumenthal in 1934 and is on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 134. Here Bastet s shown as a cat-headed goddess, in this form her peaceful traits were emphasized. It is presumed that she likely once held at least two separately-attachedrts, probably an aegis against her chest and a sistrum in her other hand. Her dress has elaborated striped patterns, alternating between dotted and