Art Institute of Chicago

Amulet of a Lion-Headed Goddess with Kitten

Egyptian

Date

Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 21–25 (about 1069–664 BCE)

Medium

Faience

Culture

Egypt

Department

Arts of Africa

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Ancient Egyptians, both living and dead, wore amulets of gods and goddesses to bring protection and health. These small charms depicted deities in their human, animal, or mixed forms. Here, a powerful striding figure draws the eye, but who is the small cat at her feet? This amulet likely represents the lioness goddess Sekhmet or the cat goddess, Bastet. In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet and Bastet both act as the Eye of Re, the daughter/protector of the sun god, Re. Sekhmet was known for her ferocious nature, while Bastet was thought to be a gentler form of the same goddess. Ancient Egyptians recognized the fickle moodiness of felines, a quality still associated with today’s domesticated cats. The amulet represents this duality by showing the goddess in both her lion and cat forms.

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