Scarab Decorated with the Representation of a Cat (Bastet)
Unknown Artist
The underside of the scarab is decorated with the representatiojn of a cat sitting on top of a basket. Cats represent the goddess Bastet, the mild-tempered daughter of the sun god Re, who also served as an Eye of Re. The sun disk above her back emphasizes her association with Re.
Credit: Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
c. 733-525 B.C.
Steatite
0.5 x 0.3in
10.130.610
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection