By Barbara Waterson Last updated 2011-02-17 Bastet was the cat-
goddess of Bubastis in the Eastern Delta. She was probably
worshipped originally as a wild cat (Felis vercata maniculata),
but her later manifestations were as the domestic cat that was
introduced into Egypt around 2100 BC. She was depicted as a
woman with a cat's head, or in the form that is familiar to us
from the numerous Late-Period statues of her, that of a lissom
and majestic queen cat. Although a virgin goddess she was
nevertheless the mother of a son, Mihos. In the Late Period her
popularity was so great that worshippers flocked to her temple
for the annual festival held in her honour. The Greeks
identified her with Artemis, the divine huntress. This page is
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