Egypt Museum

Middle Kingdom Cat

This is a vessel in the shape of a cat that dates from early in the 12th Dynasty of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, 1990–1900 B.C.

Middle Kingdom Cat. Met Museum. 1990.59.1
Met Museum. 1990.59.1

Made from Egyptian alabaster, the cat is sculpted beautifully and inlaid eyes of rock-crystal, lined with copper bring an eerie sense of realism to this piece. The form of the cat is perfectly captured, just like the more famous Late Period Gayer Anderson Cat, yet this alabaster feline is over 1,300 years older.

The realistic capture of a cat's eye from Ancient Egypt, almost 2,000 years before Christ. Met Museum. 1990.59.1
The realistic capture of a cat’s eye from Ancient Egypt, almost 2,000 years before Christ.
Met Museum. 1990.59.1

The cat first appears in painting and relief at the end of the Old Kingdom, and this cosmetic jar is the earliest-known three-dimensional representation of the animal in Egyptian art. The sculptor demonstrates a keen understanding of the creature’s physical traits, giving the animal the alert, tense look of a hunter rather than the elegant aloofness seen in later representations. The rock-crystal eyes, lined with copper, enhance the impression of readiness.
Dimensions: h. 14 (5 1/2 in.); l. 13.7 cm (5 3/8 in.); w. 6.2 cm (2 7/16 in.)

Read about Prince Thutmose and his beloved cat here.

Did the Persians use cats as weapons against the Egyptians? Watch here.

Tags: