Egypt announces find of ancient cat goddess temple

Associated Press ^ | Jan 19, 2010 | HAMZA HENDAWI

[decimon]

CAIRO – Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old temple that may have been dedicated to the ancient Egyptian cat goddess, Bastet, the Supreme Council of Antiquities said Tuesday. The ruins of the Ptolemaic-era temple were discovered by Egyptian archaeologists in the heart of the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C.

The city was the seat of the Greek-speaking Ptolemaic Dynasty, which ruled over Egypt for 300 years until the suicide of Queen Cleopatra.

The statement said the temple was thought to belong to Queen Berenice, wife of King Ptolemy III who ruled Egypt in the 3rd century B.C.

[decimon]

Top cat ping.

[dr_who]

I generally like cats but the thought of worshipping them seems downright nutty.

[rbosque]

My wife’s cat is a free-loading so & so. She could at least go out and hunt gophers.

[fatnotlazy]

Cats hunt only if their mothers teach them how.

My first cat thought she was a hunter, but her skills left a lot to be desired. One day, there was a half dead wasp hanging out from the sofa cushions. The cat sneaked and crept up to the insect, but when she got close, the wasp moved. My cat jumped about 50 feet into the air. She was scared out of her wits by a half dead wasp.

[6SJ7]

[decimon]

Semaphore Kitties?

[rbosque]

Ha!

My son has a cat that does hunt gophers, I was hoping he would teach my wife’s cat. But she is a big chicken anyways.

[achilles2000]

Cats were sacred in ancient Egypt. The penalty for killing a cat, accidentally or otherwise, was death.

[Publius]

Cats were once worshipped as gods — and they haven’t forgotten it.

[JoeProBono]

[FourPeas]

Very cool. I think I shall celebrate by adopting a cat. Maybe two. Or thirty-seven. The dog’s peed on the floor three times in the last two days. I’d say he needs a little reminder that he can be easily replaced.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Sherman Logan]

the Greek-speaking Ptolemaic Dynasty, which ruled over Egypt for 300 years until the suicide of Queen Cleopatra.

Well, actually Cleo killed herself because the Romans had already ended the dynasty.

[mrreaganaut]

Meow Ping!

[Nepeta]

I generally like cats but the thought of worshipping them seems downright nutty.

Bastet was considered the embodiment of motherhood and good luck. Every year, a BIG party was held at her main temple, and everybody who could hopped a boat on the Nile and joined in the fun. As Pagan deities go, she was a pleasant, kindly one.

[BunnySlippers]

[workerbee]

[wildbill]

No wonder all the cats I’ve ever known acted like they were God incarnate.

They were.

[Fire_on_High]

I’ve seen mine do this with spiders. They stalk very carefully...and then go up and nose the spider, which of course starts haulin in the opposite direction, while the startled cat backpedals so fast they nearly trip over their own tail.