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 Background Information - Animals and the goddesses and gods of Ancient Egypt
Some of the animals of Ancient Egypt were thought to be representatives or spiritual messengers of the gods. Many goddesses and gods became naturally associated with one or more animals that shared their same qualities. The cow, for instance, which takes tender care of its young became associated with the goddess of love and motherhood, Hathor. Often gods and goddesses were depicted in drawings, sculptures and friezes with animal heads or portions of their bodies as animals or sometimes as the whole animal. Special centres of worship for major goddesses and gods developed in particular settlements. Here, animals sacred to these gods were mummified and buried in enormous cemeteries. In later times a huge religious industry flourished and millions of different animals were bred just to be sold and mummified as offerings to the gods. The cat goddess Bastet was represented as a woman with the head of a cat, although sometimes she was shown in the form of a cat. Bastet was the goddess of pleasure and joy. As such, she was thought to be approachable and caressable. She was believed to love music and dancing. Bastet was thought to be the daughter of the sun god Re and consequently was the spiritual mother of all the Pharoahs and their divine protector. She also gave protection against disease and vermin. The city of Bubastis in the Nile delta became identified with Bastet and because of this it became the centre of worship for the cat goddess. When a cat died some families took their beloved pet's body to the city where the dead cat was embalmed, wrapped in bandages and laid in a special cat-shaped coffin before being buried in a cat cemetery. Throughout Ancient Egypt thousands of statues and images of Bastet were set up in temples by priests so worshippers could place offerings of food and milk before them. In later times the priests also specially bred cats so people could have them mummified and given as offerings to the goddess. Her festival was one of the most important events in the Ancient Egyptian calendar. It was celebrated with lots of feasting, dancing and music. The festival attracted huge crowds throughout the country and more wine was drunk then than in the rest of the year!
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