Sekhmet and Bastet in Egyptian mythology
Sekhmet and Bastet are two important goddesses in Egyptian mythology, both associated with felines.
Sekhmet Myths
Sekhmet is often depicted as a lioness or a woman with the head of a lioness. She was the goddess of war, destruction, and healing. It was believed that she could bring about plagues and diseases, but she was also called upon to protect and heal.
On the other hand, Bastet (also known as Bast) is depicted as a lioness or a woman with the head of a lioness or a domestic cat. She was the goddess of home, fertility, domesticity, and protection. Bastet was a gentle and nurturing goddess, often associated with the warmth of the sun and the home.
Ancient Egyptian Goddess Bastet, Goddess of Cats, Protection and fertility
Both Sekhmet and Bastet were highly revered and had significant cults in ancient Egypt. They represented different aspects of life and were believed to have both protective and destructive powers, highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of Egyptian deities.
Read More: Most Famous Ancient Egyptian Goddesses
Worship
Ancient Egyptians worshipped and honored Sekhmet and Bastet through various rituals, festivals, and offerings.
Sekhmet and Bastet had dedicated temples throughout Egypt where priests and priestesses performed daily rituals and maintained their cult statues. These temples were places of worship and pilgrimage for the devotees.
Worshipers would bring offerings to the temples, such as food, incense, flowers, and jewelry, as gifts to the goddesses. These offerings were seen as a way to show respect and gratitude.
It is believed that her rage and anger was cooled down by the water in the lake. This turned her from a ferocious lioness into a gentle cat. Bastet – Wadjet-Bastet, with a lioness head, the solar disk, and the cobra that represents Wadjet
Both Sekhmet and Bastet had annual festivals celebrated in their honor. These festivals included music, dance, processions, and other forms of entertainment to entertain the goddesses and show devotion.
Music and dance were integral parts of the worship of Bastet, known as the goddess of music and dance. Performances and ceremonies involving music and dance were held in her temples.
Sekhmet was also associated with healing and medicine. Physicians and healers would invoke her during medical treatments and use her power to cure diseases.
Sekhmet shown with her sun disk and cobra crown from a relief at the Temple of Kom Ombo.
Sekhmet from the temple of Mut at Luxor, granite, 1403–1365 B.C., in the National Museum, Copenhagen
Festivals dedicated to Sekhmet and Bastet
The festival of Sekhmet was a major annual festival held in honor of the goddess. It was celebrated with music, dance, processions, and feasting. The festival aimed to appease Sekhmet’s fiery nature and prevent her destructive aspects from causing harm.
The main festival of Bastet was a grand celebration held at her temple in the city of Bubastis (modern-day Tell Basta). It was one of the most popular and widely attended festivals in ancient Egypt. Pilgrims from all over the country traveled to Bubastis to participate in the festivities. The festival included music, dance, boat processions, and a great feast.
This festival was celebrated in honor of both Sekhmet and Bastet. It was held in the second month of the Egyptian calendar and involved elaborate processions and ceremonies.
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Significance of the goddesses in the ancient Egyptian pantheon
The significance of Sekhmet and Bastet lies in their complementary roles. While Sekhmet represented the fierce and protective aspect of the goddess, Bastet embodied the gentle and nurturing aspect. Together, they symbolized the duality of nature and the balance of power in Egyptian belief.
Their worship was essential in maintaining harmony and protection in various aspects of Egyptian life, both in times of peace and in times of conflict. The reverence for Sekhmet and Bastet reflects the ancient Egyptians’ deep respect for the divine and their belief in the gods’ influence over all aspects of their lives.
Questions & Answers
Sekhmet (left) and Bastet
Who is Sekhmet?
Sekhmet was believed to have the power to both heal and harm, and her fiery nature could bring plagues and epidemics when angered. Sekhmet was often called upon in times of war to protect Egypt and its people from enemies.
Who is Bastet?
Unlike the fierce and aggressive Sekhmet, Bastet was associated with gentle qualities and was regarded as a benevolent and protective deity. She was also associated with music, dance, joy, and love. Bastet was believed to safeguard households, protect women and children, and ensure fertility and prosperity.
What is the difference between Sekhmet and Bastets?
These goddesses represented different aspects of life and were revered by ancient Egyptians for their respective powers and attributes. Sekhmet represented the forceful and sometimes destructive nature of the sun, while Bastet symbolized the more benevolent aspects of the sun, bringing warmth and prosperity to the land. Together, they formed a balance of opposing forces in Egyptian cosmology.
Another distinguishing feature between the goddesses was the fact that Sekhmet was the feline goddess of Upper Egypt, often portrayed wearing red. However, Bastet was the green-dressed goddess revered predominantly in Lower Egypt, especially in the ancient Egyptian city of Bubastis (also known in Arabic as Tell-Basta).
What are their similarities?
In addition to both goddesses being associated with feline creatures, they were believed to be part of a group of Egyptian solar deities that represented the Eye of Ra. Other members of the group include Hathor, Horus, and Wadjet. The primary responsibility of the group was to defend the Egyptian pharaoh, and consequently the sun god, Ra.
In time, the two deities came to be characterized as two aspects of the same goddess.
Read More: List of Known ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
