01 July, 2022

Postcard: Bastet

A postcard from my recent visit to the University of Chicago, Illinois.

Day 5: Bastet, Ancient Egypt Goddess

From the placard at The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois:

"This village shrine honors a kindly cat-goddess, called Bastet.

Much-loved for her nature - strong, fertile and agile as a cat - the goddess Bastet also represents the warm, life-giving sun.  

Religious processions (and wild celebrations) marked Bastest's feast days on the 29th day of the fifth month and the fourth and fifth days of the eighth month.  

Priests took her image from the shrine and carried it through the streets and down the river for all to see.  

In the New Kingdom Period, Ramesses IV decreed no lion hunting could take place on her days."

***

Today, let's celebrate Canada Day

A recognition of the early stages of Canadian unification.

Formerly called Dominion Day, the change to Canada Day occurred in 1982.

For me personally, Canada has been a very, very good friend.

From taking in stranded travelers on 9/11/01, to recently offering a hand of welcome to immigrants and women seeking medical assistance, Canadian sensibilities and caring ways are deeply appreciated.

Well, except for Canada Geese, which are the nastiest quackers...😹
Image from Meanwhile in Canada FB feed
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11 comments:

  1. Momma Kat and Her Bear CatJuly 1, 2022 at 3:35 AM

    I didn't know all that about Bastet. I believe in cats as life-giving sun though!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Memories of Eric and FlynnJuly 1, 2022 at 6:03 AM

    Lovely statuettes of Bastet. Happy Canada Day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mickey's MusingsJuly 1, 2022 at 8:32 AM

    I like hearing stories of Bastet :)
    I do not want to get anywhere near our Canadian geese!
    It is a lovely,sunny Canada Day here :)
    Purrs, Julie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ivan from WMDJuly 1, 2022 at 10:58 AM

    We have a little statue of Bastet. Mom had to fix her ear after *someone* got a little too excited with her.

    We wish our Canadian friends a happy Canada Day too! Mom would like to return there some day.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Marvelous MarvJuly 1, 2022 at 12:31 PM

    Terrific post about Bastet! She is in the souls of all us cats. We are so happy that it is Canada Day! We love all the festivities (while Mom does) and the Canada geese...Mom calls the Cobra Chickens! Did you know that "Most Canadians are nice because each full moon they perform a ritual that passes all the nastiness into the geese!" Purrs Marv

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  6. John BellenJuly 1, 2022 at 1:06 PM

    It's rather surprising that there were enough lions in ancient Egypt to provide for hunting. The climate must have been a bit different then.

    And I've always liked Canada, too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brian's Home BlogJuly 1, 2022 at 1:07 PM

    We enjoyed hearing about Bastet, super cool!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Katie IsabellaJuly 1, 2022 at 2:23 PM

    Mom and I had a statue of her..but it got lost in the moves.

    ReplyDelete
  9. SandeeJuly 1, 2022 at 3:52 PM

    Beautiful post and history lesson.

    Have a fabulous day and weekend. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  10. Three Chatty CatsJuly 1, 2022 at 5:42 PM

    I was at that museum earlier this year and have that same photo. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3July 1, 2022 at 9:43 PM

    That was interesting. Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete

Mee-row!
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