Bastet, Gayer-Anderson Cat
The Gayer-Anderson Cat, housed at the British Museum, is a stunning representation of Bastet in her domestic cat form, created during Egypt’s Late Period, (c. 664–332 B.C.). This bronze statue was acquired in the early 20th century by Major Robert Gayer-Anderson, a British collector and Egyptologist, who purchased it in Cairo. Though its precise archaeological find spot is uncertain, stylistic analysis and historical context suggest a Memphite origin. Gayer-Anderson later donated the statue to the British Museum, where it has become one of the institution’s most iconic and beloved pieces.
The cat’s elegant posture, with its poised, upright head, slender body, and intricate detailing, reflects both the natural grace of real felines and the divine aura of Bastet. The eyes, inlaid with rock crystal and bronze, would have gleamed in candlelight, enhancing the statue’s lifelike and otherworldly presence. Around its neck, the cat wears a broad collar with a beetle-shaped amulet (symbolising regeneration) and a silver Wedjat-eye amulet, reinforcing its protective symbolism.
Its purpose was more than ornamental, this cat was a votive object dedicated to Bastet, likely commissioned by a wealthy individual or community and placed in a temple or shrine, perhaps at Basis, Bastet’s cult centre.
Despite the striking beauty of the jewellery upon many cat statues pieces showcase, obviously, it is highly unlikely that real cats in Ancient Egypt were adorned with piercings or earrings. The delicate structure of a cat’s ear would not bear the weight, and the practice would contradict the Egyptians’ deep respect for their animal companions.
The piercings observed on cat statues, especially those made of bronze or faience, served symbolic and artistic purposes rather than reflecting actual feline adornments. These holes, often found at the ears, were likely intended to hold metal or stone earrings, inlays, or amulets, enhancing the divine or luxurious status of the cat in art. The presence of such adornments emphasised the cat’s association with Bastet, who was linked with protection, fertility, and wealth. The earrings were a way to elevate the symbolic importance of the feline figure, marking it as not just a representation of a beloved pet but as an image of a deity or sacred animal.
In essence, the pierced cat statues were artistic embellishments, and while the Egyptians were known for their creativity in jewellery, they almost certainly wouldn’t have subjected their real cats to such treatment. The statues, with their inlaid eyes, ornate collars, and occasional earrings, were designed to convey the majesty and divine beauty of Bastet in a form that caught both light and reverence.
Bastet
The cult of Bastet can be traced back to Egypt’s Second Dynasty (c. 2890–2686 B.C.), with evidence of her worship in the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 B.C.). Initially, Bastet was depicted as a lioness goddess, much like Sekhmet, symbolising fierce protection and divine retribution. However, over time, her image softened into that of a domestic cat, reflecting her associations with home, fertility, and motherhood. By the Late Period (c. 664–332 B.C.), Bastet was one of the most beloved deities, worshipped widely by both commoners and elites. Her cult centre at Bubastis in the eastern Delta became a hub of pilgrimage, renowned for grand festivals where music, dance, and rivers of beer celebrated her joyful, nurturing spirit.
The Gayer Anderson Cat would likely have been positioned upon a pedestal or altar, surrounded by incense burners, offering tables, and possibly small votive offerings left by worshippers; such as cat figurines, food, or amulets.
Priests and priestesses might have anointed the statue with oils, polished its bronze surface, and adorned its ears with earrings or its collar with beads. In the flickering light of oil lamps and amid the hum of prayers and sistrum music, the cat’s gleaming eyes and poised form would have created a powerful focal point, embodying Bastet’s grace, protection, and maternal care.
Such a display would not only honour the goddess but also remind devotees of the sacred qualities present in everyday life, where even the humblest domestic cat reflected the divine order of the cosmos.
The historian Herodotus also tells of the festival of ‘Bastet’, one of the most elaborate religious ceremonies, attended by large crowds in honour of the goddess.
“… [The feline] wears gold earrings [and a gold nose ring], and has a silvered collar round its neck and a silver wadjet eye amulet over the collar. Below the collar and wadjet eye is an incised winged scarab beetle, pushing a silver sun disc.
A second scarab is modelled in the bronze on the cat’s forehead. The wadjet eye symbolizes protection and regeneration, and the scarab, symbolizing the sun, is also a metaphor of rebirth as exemplified in the daily solar cycle…”
― Masterpieces of Ancient Egypt, by Nigel Strudwick (#aff)
Summary:
Late Period, c. 664-332 B.C.
Now in the British Museum. EA64391
