Bastet Holding an Aegis

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.

Conservation

Date	Description	Narrative
12/31/1969	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