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Aegis Shield of Cat-Headed Goddess Bastet

Maker Egyptian
Title Aegis Shield of Cat-Headed Goddess Bastet
Date 664-525 BCE
Medium Bronze
Dimensions Overall: 5 1/2 x 5 in. (14 x 12.7 cm)
Credit Line Burton Y. Berry Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number 69.135.4

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About this Work

Cats were revered in Ancient Egypt. Several powerful goddesses bore feline characteristics, such as Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess and Bastet, the cat-headed goddess. Moreover, cats themselves were believed to have magical powers and were protected so that they, in turn, would act as spiritual guardians of the household.


Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Aegis Shield of Cat-Headed Goddess Bastet | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2024. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=69.135.4