Description

Bast / Bastet

Crouching figure of the sacred cat *Unavailable since October last year! This one was found in a little side chamber of my work desk. 

Dimensions -

Total height - 6 cm / 2-3/8 inches

Base length 7.5 cm x  3 inches

 

O n offer here is a fine replica statue of the Egyptian cat goddess Bast in the more unusual crouching position.

Made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone she has been given a well developed, aged ochre patina and is mounted on a felt based stand. A small hole has been carefully drilled on a gentle angle to allow for the insertion of an incense stick. This is the first time it has been made available in this novel format. 

Background information

This statue has a pleasing sculptural quality enhanced by i ncised details that can be seen in the eyes and the slight mouth. She rests on a plinth that features the left and right eyes of Horus carved on the front. In between the eyes a stylized hieroglyph, the 'Nefer' symbol can be seen which refers to something which is good or beautiful. The presence of the  protective eyes that flank this glyph create a strong message of protecting that which is good and beautiful in the owners life.

Mythology- Certainly a very popular figure in ancient Egypt from the earliest times when the domestic cat proved a worthy advantage to have protect the hard won food stuffs of the ancient pantry or temple storehouse. By dynasty number 2 she was already known and revered before a single pyramid was built. In the pantheon of Egyptian divinity she was both wife and a daughter of Ra the sun god. She had a son named Maahes who had the body of a man and the head of a lion wearing an atef crown. (See listing -'miniature Osiris wearing Atef crown') If available.

Late in Egyptian history during the 22nd dynasty, Bast was elevated to supreme state god by the Pharaoh Sheshonq the1st and her sacred town of Bubastis in the delta region of the Nile became capital. Her temples across the land were enriched including Thebes which was the home of Amun. All gods co-existed but from time to time a change would shake the status quo into a new direction. Usually politically motivated.

The attributes of Bast are in many ways similar to Hathor with music, dance and all manner of light hearted activity associated with her. She even shakes a Hathor Sistrum when depicted as a womanly figure with a feline head. She could of course be shown as just a cat without the human features. The ancient public would commission people like myself to make for them a statue or at least a votive head, to place in a temple as an offering to the goddess.

 

 

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• Condition: New
• Provenance: Ownership History Available
• Region: Australia
• Era: 2010s
• Product Type: Egyptian statue / incense holder

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