Represented as a woman with a cat's head, Bastet carries an ancient percussion instrument, the sistrum, in her right hand; a so-called aegis, or breastplate (in Bastet's case, surmounted with the head of a lioness), in her left hand; and a small bag over her left arm.
The Greeks sometimes equated Bastet with one of their goddesses, Artemis. Bastet was depicted by Egyptians with the head of a cat and the slender body of a woman. Sometimes, Basted was venerated as just a cat head.
In ancient Greece, cats were venerated and considered as divine beings. Some Olympian gods had cats as companions. The Greek god of war Ares: had a cat as a companion. The Greek goddess Artemis: cats were associated with her because they were considered hunting animals and guardians of nature.
Ancient Times, Egyptian Theology and Cats
The people of ancient Egypt worshiped the cat god, Bastet, as one of their highest deities. Bastet, also known as Bast, is associated with the Goddess Isis. Isis is often depicted as a female goddess accompanied by black cats.
The Ancient Egyptian god of cats, called Bastet, was often portrayed as a woman with the head of a black cat, so our black felines had nothing to fear.
Cats, known in ancient Egypt as the mau, played a large role in ancient Egyptian society. They were associated with the goddesses Isis and Bastet. Cats were sacred animals and the goddess Bastet was often depicted in cat form, sometimes taking on the war-like aspect of a lioness.
Cats were thought to embody independence and freedom. In fact, cats were the only animals allowed inside Roman temples. The Roman goddess Libertas is often shown with a cat. And there are several tales of the goddess Diana transforming herself into a cat.
And yet the biblical texts make no mention of them. The closest we can get is a very brief reference in the satirical, deuterocanonical (apocryphal) text of the Letter of Jeremiah 6:22 (also called Baruch 6). That states: Bats, swallows, and birds alight on their bodies and heads; and so do cats.
Cat — Mention of this animal occurs not once in the Protestant Bible. It is mentioned in Baruch 6:21. The cat was very familiar to the Egyptians, it seems to have been known to the Jews, as well as to the Assyrians and Babylonians, even to the Greeks and Romans before the conquest of Egypt.
Zeus is basically a stronger Bahamut Cat, with better attack speed, health and range, most notably, but nothing too unique. His resistance almost never comes into play, but it does make him a lot more effective against Sunfish Jones, Clionel, St. Dober and few other threatening foes.
History. Mafdet was the first known cat-headed deity in ancient Egypt.
Nala – The world's most followed cat
Currently the Guinness World Record Holder for the most followers for a cat on Instagram , the Siamese/tabby mix has over 4 million fans and her own range of merchandise to boot.
Cerberus, in Greek mythology, the monstrous watchdog of the underworld. He was usually said to have three heads, though the poet Hesiod (flourished 7th century bce) said he had 50.
Some people mistakenly associate Anubis with the cat or believe that Anubis was a cat, but this is incorrect. Instead, Anubis is associated with the jackal.
“Cats were not worshipped as gods themselves, but as vessels that the gods chose to inhabit, and whose likeness gods chose to adopt,” Skidmore explains. Through their ubiquitous presence in the art, fashion and home ornamentation of ancient Egypt, cats served as an everyday reminder of the power of the gods.
Indeed, despite there being no mention of them in the Bible, cats have a prestigious holy pedigree in Christianity too.
Egyptians believed cats were magical creatures, capable of bringing good luck to the people who housed them. To honor these treasured pets, wealthy families dressed them in jewels and fed them treats fit for royalty. When the cats died, they were mummified.
In Islamic tradition, cats are admired for their cleanliness. They are thought to be ritually clean, and are thus allowed to enter homes and even mosques, including Masjid al-Haram.
The term Bakeneko means " changed cat " or " cat demon ". Indeed, it was said that this feline could transform into a demon to haunt its house and take possession of its master.
Cats were considered by the ancient Egyptians to be the guardians of the Underworld: for this reason, disciples of the High Priest of Osiris, Imhotep, kept thin, white-furred cats.
Jaguar (Panthera onca) are the largest cat in the Americas and have a powerful bite to match. For their size, they are the strongest of any cat, allowing them to dispatch monstrous prey - even caiman crocodiles.
According to Greek mythology, Zeus's wife Hera once transformed her servant, Galinthias, into a black cat as punishment for impeding the birth of Hercules. Galinthias went on to become an assistant to Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, and black cats have had unique meanings in various cultures ever since.
When she was in a calmer state she would take the form of the household cat goddess Bastet. Sekhmet was a terrifying goddess, however for her friends she could avert plague and cure disease. She was the patron of physicians and healers. The ancient Egyptians believed that Sekhmet had a cure for every problem.
7 Cat Gods From Around the World | History Cooperative.