Ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet. Egyptian goddess-cat Bastet

For anybody not a novelty the fact that the history of Ancient Egypt is quite fascinating in its content. A huge number of different gods and goddesses have always attracted the attention of curious people. In this article I want to tell you about exactly who is the goddess Bastet, to whom she was a patron and when she asked people for help.

About the name

You first need to make a first impression on the goddess. So, in the beginning is to say that bast and Bastet – two of the name of a deity, to call it so and so. By nature it is – daughter of light and darkness, is the embodiment of femininity, wisdom and beauty. A certain militancy and ferocity of the image, resulting in the first time, Egyptians brought to a more pleasant awareness of warmth, the hearth, motherhood, protective force and fertility.

About the family

According to various versions, the goddess Bastet was the daughter of the God RA (the Eye) and his wife. You can find information about that bast was the daughter of ISIS and Osiris. According to other sources, the husband of Bastet could be God, the Devil – the patron Saint of children and the elderly, bringing good luck and joy. It is important to say also that the embodiment of the Union of the gods RA and Bastet was the God Mahes – the fierce God of war and the Boers, who was depicted with a lion's head (crowned with two Egyptian crown).

Picture

Very interesting is, and how well depicted the goddess Bastet. This woman is either in the cat or with a cat's head. However, in Ancient Egypt not find images of domesticated house cats. They were depicted only as wild animals, for example, a cat of Heliopolis. And only in the II century ad, the animal is firmly reunited with people and domesticated. Since cats are universally revered, they were protected and loved. After the death of these animals were embalmed, and sometimes even deified. Interesting seem the fact that the cat is considered a sacred animal of the Sun God. Koty saw his incarnation, and the eyes of these animals, according to the Egyptians, radiated sunlight.

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Patron Saint

So, who is the ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet guard, who brought good luck, it could apply in the case of certain problems? So versions, there is a huge amount. First and foremost, is the patroness of all women, because it is – Catwoman. Had come to her with various problems, including when the lady could not get pregnant. She is the goddess of childbirth and fertility in all its manifestations. Also Bastet was considered defender of hearth and home, she was brought to the house of fun, love and joy. He worshipped this goddess and healers of those times. They are everywhere, painted on houses her image – in the form of a black cat, in order to protect the patient from death, and for a more rapid recovery. But, despite all of the above, Bastet is also a dark side. After all, she-the daughter of darkness, and sometimes she was depicted with a lion's head, angrily staring forward and had a second name-Pasht, the goddess Bastet-Pasht.

About beauty

As at all times, women looked for ways to maintain their youth. And they helped great goddess of Egypt, Bastet. The priests created a certain amount of exercise for women who, in their opinion, was to stop the fading of beauty ladies. During their implementation it was thought that a woman possesses the spirit of Bastet, which has prompted her gracefulness, flexibility, and hidden strength. After these sessions, Egyptians believed that they will remain attractive and young.

The cult of the goddess: the beginning

When the Egyptians began to be widely read Bastet? It happened in ancient Egypt when in most cases, this deity was portrayed with a lion's head (in the likeness of the goddess Sekhmet) and was considered the mother of the God of war and storms Mahesa. During the celebration day of the goddess was forbidden to hunt lions, it was believed that on this day these animals are sacred, because they were possessed by the spirit of Bastet. However, over time, her features became softer and look softer and more feminine. And over time, this goddess was the patroness of hearth and home, women and birth, joy and fun.

The cult of the goddess: the rise

The most revered goddess of cats Bastet was during the prosperity of the Middle Kingdom, when the ancient Egyptians finally learned how to grow grain and thought to store it for future use, in order to avoid starvation. It is easy to guess why at this time special attention was paid to the goddess Bastet.

All because the main enemy of the grain – the mouse and the goddess as a cat. At the same time this God began to associate with the wealth of the country and is universally revered. Center of worship of the goddess was the city of Bubastis on, which was located in Lower Egypt. There was built the biggest and the main temple of Bastet, which was surrounded by a great Moore and decorated with beautiful reliefs. In the middle was the biggest a statue of her, which came every day a huge number of pilgrims, bringing the gift of little figurines of cats, hoping for her favor and kindness.

It is Worth saying that in this temple lived a huge number of cats, histhe foot was located and the sacred cemetery of these animals. Like the pharaohs cats learned to mummify, they were placed in specially prepared coffins for them and buried with all the honors. Today, the temple destroyed, there remained only ruins. However, everyone who visited Bubastis on to say that even from the wreckage blows force and the former grandeur and beauty.

Festival of Bastet

It is Worth saying that worshiped Bastet-goddess of ancient Egypt – seven times a year. At this time, the temple has gathered a huge number of pilgrims who came to worship the goddess. Read various prayers, sang special songs, sacrifices were offered.

Interesting is the spring honoring the goddess. So, at this time, her statue was carried out of the temple, were placed in a large boat and ride along the river Nile. This was done primarily to ensure that the goddess has protected the river from disastrous for the Egyptians the spill.

The cats

It is Worth to mention that the statuette of the goddess Bastet is necessarily almost every house of the Egyptians. She was considered a strong amulet and protector of the hearth. In addition, it was considered a good sign, if the family lived, live cat. To say that she was the most important member of the family, sometimes even more important and was in charge of the child. The cat is always fed before the owners were sat at the table, she slept in a specially designated place or even room that was necessarily the decorated.

Particularly important was the event, when the cat died. It was a huge grief for the family. Her mummified according to the rules, were buried with great honors in the sarcophagus put food to the cat in the other world did not starve, also the mouse, so she wasn't bored. Long after the death of the animal owners still grieved for the loss by wearing mourning clothes. It should be said that killing a cat was considered a huge sin and punishable by law with death. It was impossible to take the cats out of the country but the traders it is commonly done, by creating a ritual of honor (thanks to the cats spread around the world). However, the love for the animals has played a cruel joke with the Egyptians during the war with the Persians. The fact that the Persian king was aware of such love of the Egyptians and ordered his soldiers to bind to each shield by the cat. The soldiers simply did not dare to shoot the sacred animals, and no problems were captured opponents.

The cult of the goddess: the withering

After that came the Roman power, the Egyptian goddess of cats Bastet was worshipped less and less, and in 390 year, her cult was forbidden by law. Over time, the interest and respect for the animal abated, cats kept in houses just like hunters snakes and mice, which at that time was still quite a lot. However, less fortunate cats that came to Europe. For their love to walk at night and glow in the dark eyes, the Catholic Church declared them devil's spawn. A particularly heavy fate befell the black cats, who were so revered in Ancient Egypt, they were considered helpers of the witches and the abodes of souls of their dead sister. Cats were killed, tortured in every way over them bullied. However, as soon as came the Renaissance, these animals finally left alone, and the interest in them subsided considerably. Today the cats have no negative attitude, but so far they have not idolized. These animals, as before, live near the people associated with many different superstitions that people still habitually careful with that. But who knows, maybe once the time will come, and cats will be read, as before, praising them on a certain pedestal.