Cat Goddess, you ask? Unique . . . perhaps not as unique as one would think.  Read on as we uncover a well known fact in the feline world – that of cat supremacy. But then, it has always been well known to the felines.

    Recently, I read a news headline entitled, “Egypt announces find of ancient cat goddess temple.” Now, I must say, I jerked my head and realigned my bifocals just to make certain my eyes were not giving me a false reading, but there is was – an Egyptian Cat Goddess.

    The news article outlined the diggings of archaeologists who had stumbled upon a 2,000-year-old temple. All indications are that the temple was dedicated to the ancient Egyptian cat goddess, Bastet. Hmm, so an ancient fuzzy one had duped the royalty of Egypt into the belief that they were Divinity.  I began to giggle. My goodness, what were those Egyptians thinking? That’s when I noticed my Ms Sarah Belle, the black and white goddess who lives at my house. Oops, I think I really live at her house.  Yes, Ms. Sarah Belle had beckoned me. You see she needed her special kitty cat munchies refreshed and pronto! So, of course, I stopped everything, and, well, you know . . . attended to my own cat goddess.

     I returned to my reading and discovered Bastet was more than a regular ole cat goddess.  Uh huh, the announcement was made by the Supreme Council of Antiquities. This was BIG stuff. The ruins of the temple were of the Ptolemaic-era and located at the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in the 4th Century B. C.  The city was the seat of the Greek-speaking Ptolemaic Dynasty.  The dynasty ruled Egypt for 300 years until the suicide of the great Queen Cleopatra.

    Now I was really getting interested. I adore anything about ancient Egypt, the mummies, and all of that kind of stuff.  I have spent many hours soaking up the history channel and the programs about the pharaohs, pyramids, and the Nile River.  I even dragged my husband to Memphis to see King Tut when he was on his American tour – one of the highlights of my life. I remember marveling over the jars that were buried with the important Egyptians. In the jars were their hearts and a few unmentionables. My sons were convinced I was ready for the loony-farm.  I suppose if it were in Egypt, I might have gone.

    The domestic cat was highly regarded by the Egyptian civilization. Their abilities to protect the food supply by hunting and killing mice and snakes, especially cobras, made the family cat an important part of the family unit. It was a crime to kill a cat, punishable by death. Such was the praise of the cat that the families took care that their feline received proper attention and great respect. When an Egyptian family lost their cat to death, the entire household would go through a period of grief with shaven eyebrows to show their sadness. The deceased cats were mummified and entombed with fine jewelry and treasures.  At the death of other family members, they would be buried next to their pet cat. It has been found that the cats are buried with mummified rats and mice – an indication the Egyptian people believed in a cat afterlife.

    Mohammed Abdel-Maqsood, the Egyptian archaeologist who led the project, said the large number of cat statues found in the ruins of the temple indicated this might be the first Ptolemaic-era temple dedicated to the cat goddess discovered in Alexandria. In addition, Maqsood stated the discovery of this ruin could be the first trace of the long-sought location of Alexandria’s royal quarter. The temple was found in the Kom el-Dekka area near the modern city’s main train station. Nearby was a Roman-era amphitheatre and well-preserved mosaics.

    The photo of the cat goddess Bastet that was included in the newspaper account of the diggings of the ancient temple portrayed a nice little kitty with fluffy beige hair and big blue eyes – just as any kitty today. It was seated in a crouched position as though it waited for a bowl of kitty munchies.  I thought I could almost hear it purr.

    I mean I could not put this phenomenal news article down. I read that the archaeologists determined the temple belonged to Queen Berenice, wife of King Ptolemy III who ruled Egypt in the 3rd century B. C. I decided that Berenice and I could have been great friends since we had the same interests — Egypt and cats.  I wanted to know more about her. I researched and found plenty of info available.  1.) She didn’t have too much in the “looks” department. 2.) She was the daughter of a king, King Magas of Cyrene. 3.) Her momma, Apama was a Syrian princess.  4.) She was unlucky in love.  5.) In the age in which she lived, Berenice had a superstar status – even a constellation was given her name, Coma Berenices.  6. She died at the hands of her oldest son, Ptolemy IV.

    It seemed that Queen Berenice II had more trouble than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. (Chuckle.)  Yes, she was betrayed by her mother, she couldn’t keep a husband, and she had mean kids, but she had Bastet, the Cat Goddess.  Ah, her life did have a little happiness, I’m certain.  One can have a bummer of a day, but when greeted by a sweet kitty cat purr, well, the world is a little better.

    Bastet, Cat Goddess of ancient Egypt – who knew? I’m pretty sure my Ms. Sara Belle knew, my grand kitty, Harley knew, and the Mutzigers’ kitty, Lucky, — Yep, he knew as well. Yes, all of the fuzzy ones are of a special breed – just a purr away from Divinity.

    Anne B. McKee is an author and storyteller.  She lives in Meridian.  Anne is listed on the Mississippi Artist Roster, sponsored by Mississippi Arts Commission, as a dramatic and literary artist and as a Teaching Artist.  She is active with the arts and educational communities throughout Mississippi.  Visit her web site: www.annemckee.net