Egyptian cat goddess Bastet
Welcome to my enchanting world of ancient Egyptian mythology with our Bastet coloring pages!
Bastet was the Egyptian goddess who guarded the home, families and children. Long ago she was shown as a fierce lioness, but over time she softened into the cat we picture today, or a woman with a cat’s head. Egyptians kept real cats in their homes to chase away mice and snakes, so it made sense that their goddess of the home looked like one.
Bastet
(in human form)
Cat
(Bastet)
Mythology of the Egyptian goddess, Bastet:
In the ancient land of Egypt, where gods and goddesses held sway over the destinies of mortals, the feline goddess Bastet was adored as a protector and defender. Bastet, with the head of a lioness or as a regal cat, embodied both grace and ferocity. Her benevolence was well-known, but one day, the tranquility of the Egyptian pantheon was threatened by the malevolent serpent Apep.
Apep, a colossal serpent representing chaos, sought to engulf the world in darkness by devouring the sun god Ra as he sailed through the underworld each night. The gods, including Bastet, rallied to thwart Apep's destructive ambitions. Bastet, with her agile and fierce nature, was chosen to stand guard at Ra's side during his perilous journey.
As Ra's solar boat glided through the celestial waters, Apep's monstrous form emerged from the shadows. The serpent hissed and coiled, attempting to strike at Ra and plunge the world into eternal night. Bastet, undeterred by the serpent's malevolence, leaped into action.
With incredible agility, Bastet pounced onto Apep's back, her sharp claws tearing into the serpent's scales. A fierce battle ensued between the goddess of protection and the embodiment of chaos. Bastet's roars echoed through the celestial realms as she valiantly defended Ra and the delicate balance of the cosmos.
Despite Apep's relentless struggles, Bastet's determination prevailed. With a final triumphant strike, she incapacitated the serpent, rendering it powerless. Apep recoiled, defeated, and slithered away into the shadows, leaving Ra's path unobstructed.
Bastet's victory was celebrated throughout the heavens, and she earned even greater reverence as the guardian who had thwarted chaos itself. The people of Egypt, grateful for Bastet's unwavering courage, honored her with festivals and offerings, forever recognizing her as the fierce protector and defender of their realm. And so, the legacy of Bastet endured as a symbol of the triumphant power of order over chaos in the divine tapestry of ancient Egyptian mythology.