Description
The ancient Egyptians donated figures of their gods for use in temple rituals; smaller images served as amulets to ensure divine protection. Goddesses in particular were viewed as protective deities. From earliest times, Egyptian venerated a wide circle of feline-headed female deities, such as Sakhmet, Tefnut, Wadjet, and Bastet.
This statuette of a standing Bastet has an usekh-collar with a lioness head in her hand as a protective symbol. The inscription on the base names the donor of the figure.








Bastet Holding an Aegis
Conservation
Date | Description | Narrative |
---|---|---|
Examination | examined for condition | |
9/17/1959 | Treatment | cleaned |
12/22/1960 | Treatment | examined for exhibition; cleaned |
2/12/1964 | Examination | examined for loan |
1/14/1965 | Treatment | cleaned |
12/01/1975 | Treatment | stabilized; loss compensation; other |
6/27/2003 | Treatment | cleaned; other |
Exhibitions
- Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me. The Jewish Museum, New York. 1964.
- Secret Signs: Egyptian Writing. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2003-2004.
- Daily Magic in Ancient Egypt. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2006-2007.
- Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2013-2014.
Provenance
[From Mitrahina]; Dikran Kelekian, New York and Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1911, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Inscriptions
[Translation] Bastet may give life to Amen-er-dj-s, son of the priest of Amun Pefti-w-[m]-awj-Neith, born of the lady of the house Mut-er-dj-s.
Credit
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1911
Creator
- Egyptian (Artist)
Period
ca. 305-250 BCE (early Ptolemaic Period)Accession Number
54.409Measurements
H: 4 13/16 x W: 1 7/16 x D: 1 1/4 in. (12.3 x 3.6 x 3.2 cm); H with base: 6 9/16 x W: 1 5/8 x D: 1 5/8 in. (16.6 x 4.1 x 4.2 cm)Geographies
- Egypt (Place of Origin)