Last time, we had a look at some of the animals - crocodile, cobra, and scorpion - worshiped by the ancient Egyptians. The people of ancient Egypt had to share the fertile ground near the life-giving Nile River in their harsh desert landscape with these fearsome and deadly creatures. This prompted the ancient people to develop a sense of awe and deep respect, and even reverence, for these animals as they recognized their noble qualities and associated them with their gods and their pharaoh. Let's continue our look at some of the sacred animals of Egypt this week by having a look at two more majestic animals.
Many of us know that the cat was worshiped in ancient Egypt, representing the goddess
Bastet. Originally, this goddess was just as fierce as the crocodile, the cobra and the scorpion, as she was represented by the mighty lioness. By around one thousand BC, however, the fearsome and vengeful lioness goddess gave way to the more peaceable and gentle cat goddess. Bastet, the daughter (sister/consort) of the Sun God Ra, was the goddess of fertility and love, and provided protection against disease and evil spirits. Depicted as a woman with the head of a cat, Bastet, or Bast, was a most beloved goddess whose feast day was held on October 31st. The ancient Egyptians placed a high value on cats, especially domestic cats, as they rid their grain stores of vermin thus protecting the all-important food supply. Indeed, cats were demi-gods in ancient Egypt and usually held a higher position in the household than most humans. In fact to harm or kill a cat was often punishable by death. The ancient Egyptians certainly didn't forget about the bigger more fearsome cats prowling their landscape. As we mentioned, the cat goddess started out as the lioness goddess. This more vicious aspect of the goddess still remained in the form of the goddess Sekhmet, Bastet's twin sister. Sekhmet is the flipside of Bastet, representing the darker, more negative goddess and the destructive forces present in both Nature and humans. Together, the sister goddesses Bastet and Sekhmet represent a balance between good and evil.
Another greatly loved goddess of the ancient Egyptians was the goddess Hathor, representing the gentle cow, as she was depicted as a beautiful woman with a horned headdress and solar disc or as the sacred cow. If Bastet was regarded as the protectress of the ancient Egyptian people then Hathor was the nurturer. She presided over conception and childbirth and especially watched over mothers and children. As the cow she was the goddess who nourished mankind with her milk. The male aspect of this animal becomes the sacred bull, Apis. Apis was worshiped as a divine animal, divine because the ancient Egyptian people believed that he was indeed the reincarnation of the god Ptah at his temple at Memphis. Like Ptah, Apis was a symbol of great strength and potency.
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