Cat

Culture: Ancient Egyptian
Period: Late Period, 664–332 BCE
Period: Ptolemaic dynasty, 332–30 BCE
Period: Graeco-Roman period, 332 BCE–395 CE
Date: 664–30 BCE
Material: Bronze
from: Egypt, Africa
Classification: Metalwork, sculpture
Collection: Ancient Art
Current Location: On View, Gallery 313
Dimensions: 7 3/4 x 3 x 6 1/8 in. (19.7 x 7.6 x 15.6 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Miss Cornelia Scott in memory of her brother, George Eaton Scott
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 24:1939

NOTES

This cat was a gift made to the goddess Bastet. Bastet was a protective deity, and gifts such as these were deposited by worshippers at her temple, either as a token of thanks or as an appeal to the goddess for good fortune. While the cat's earring was added later, these statuettes were often decorated with real jewelry.

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