Royal Egyptian Artifact – "قطة مصرية" (Qiṭṭah Miṣrīyah) – "Egyptian Cat" (pharaonic schist)

story :

Silent and graceful, the Egyptian cat was not just a companion, but a sacred creature revered by the gods themselves. With eyes that could pierce through the veils of time and fur as dark as the midnight sky, these cats were believed to hold the spirits of ancient deities, their movements a reflection of divine will.

In the temples, they roamed freely, often seen sitting at the feet of priests, as though guarding the sacred spaces where offerings were made to the gods. The ancient Egyptians believed that the feline’s ability to see in the dark was a gift from the goddess Bastet, the protector of home and hearth, who ruled both love and war.

But the mystery lies deeper still—why did the Egyptians treat their cats as gods in their own right? Some say it was their uncanny ability to navigate both the world of the living and the unseen world of spirits. Others believe that cats could communicate with the ancient gods themselves, acting as intermediaries between realms.

When a cat died, it was not just a loss; it was a divine departure, marked by rituals that echoed the reverence given to royalty. A cat's soul was believed to journey to the underworld, where it would be granted eternal protection by Bastet, forever living among the gods.

Material:

Pharaonic schist:

Refers to a variety of metamorphic stones widely used by the ancient Egyptians from 3100 to 30 BC. This stone is characterized by its layered composition, which facilitates its shaping and carving. Schist is composed of minerals such as mica, chlorite, and talc, giving it a lustrous sheen and a smooth surface. These qualities made it a valuable material for fine sculptures, ritual objects, and funerary items. The ancient Egyptians preferred schist for its ability to support intricate carvings, making it a prime material for temple statues, stelae, and tomb artifacts, which often held religious significance.

DIMENSIONS:

L:  3.6  inches

D: 5.6  inches

H: 9.5  inches

weight:  2.3 lb