Description
A black obsidian Bastet statue, 10cm tall and around 185g, carved and polished into the classic seated figure of the Egyptian cat goddess. Tall ears, a long elegant neck and front paws set neatly together on an oval base, with a carved collar and pendant across the chest. The polish is glossy and mirror bright, so the whole figure catches the light as you move around it.
About this Bastet statue
The pose follows the seated cat figures of ancient Egypt: upright, alert and calm, with the head lifted and the gaze straight ahead. The collar at the neck and the pendant on the chest are carved in relief, and small details of the paws are cut into the base.
We have three of these Bastet statues in stock. They are the same design and size, so the one you receive will look just like the one photographed, with only the small natural variations you expect from stone.
Who Bastet is
Bastet, also called Bast, is one of the best loved goddesses of ancient Egypt. In early art she was shown as a lioness, and over time she came to be shown as a cat or a woman with the head of a cat. Her great temple stood at Bubastis in the Nile Delta, where her festivals were famous for music, dancing and celebration.
She was honoured as a protector of the home, of women and of children, and as a goddess of joy, music and pleasure. Cats were kept, cared for and honoured in her name, and small cat figures were left at her temples as offerings. Later, the Greeks linked her with Artemis, which gave her a connection to the moon that many people still work with today.
Bastet on an altar
A black obsidian Bastet statue is a lovely focus for an altar to the home, to protection, or to the goddess herself. Traditionally, Bastet guards the threshold and the hearth, so many people place her near the front door, on a mantelpiece, or facing the room she is watching over.
Simple offerings suit her well: a candle, a little perfume or incense, a bowl of milk or water, music, or a small token for a beloved cat. She is also kept by those who want to welcome more joy and playfulness into the home, and many people honour her on the full moon.
Obsidian adds its own long tradition here. It is one of the best known protection and grounding stones, so the stone and the goddess share the same quiet, watchful quality. With Samhain close, a black cat on the altar is a fitting companion for the season too.
Correspondences are traditional and are offered as part of a practice, not as a substitute for medical or professional advice.
Caring for your black obsidian Bastet statue
Obsidian is natural volcanic glass, so the ears and fine edges can chip if knocked or dropped onto a hard floor. Set it down gently and keep it back from the edge of shelves.
A soft dry cloth brings the polish back. To cleanse, use sound, breath or moonlight.
What you receive
One black obsidian Bastet statue, 10cm and around 185g, wrapped for the post and sent by Royal Mail Tracked.
Browse the rest of our crystal carvings, or see everything in obsidian.
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