ABSTRACT
The feline deities are a peculiar group, chiefly feminine. Sekhmet the lioness was the most feared, and therefore the most worshipped; her temple was at Memphis, where her High-priest made himself one with the deity by wearing a leopard-skin as a robe. Sekhmet was the fierce avenging goddess, the terror of evildoers; her name means "The
30EGYPTIANTEMPLES
PowerfulOne",oftenwiththeconnotationofcelestialor magicalpower.Bastwasthecat;bytheGreeksshewas identifiedwithArtemis,thoughthereasonfortheidentificationisobscure,forArtemisoriginatedinabear,not inacat.TheworshipofBastwasorgiastic,andincluded frenzieddances;shewasalsoavirgin-goddesswithouta maleconsort.PakhtmusthavebeennearertoBastthan toSekhmetfortheGreekscalledhershrineSpeosArtemidos,"TheCaveofArtemis."ThereasonforcatworshipisnotfartoseekinEgypt;evenatthepresent daycatsaremorevaluedfortheirsnake-killingpowers thanforratting.ThemodernEgyptiancatkillsasnake byjumpingonthecreature'sback,andseizingitbythe neckjustbehindthehead,thenwithoneshakeandbite combinedthesnake'sneckisdislocatedorbroken.
