TimeLine Auctions

Auction 153  –  5 - 9 September 2023

TimeLine Auctions, Auction 153

Greek, Roman, Egyptian & Other Antiquities, Natural History & Coins

Part 1: Tu, 05.09.2023, from 1:00 PM CEST
Part 2: We, 06.09.2023, from 1:00 PM CEST
Part 3: Th, 07.09.2023, from 1:00 PM CEST
Part 4: Fr, 08.09.2023, from 1:00 PM CEST
Part 5: Sa, 09.09.2023, from 1:00 PM CEST
The auction is closed.
Please note: Lots not collected by the seventh working day following the Date of Sale will be moved to storage at a transfer cost of £20 plus VAT per Lot and storage charges will thereafter be applied at the rate of £1.90 plus VAT per Lot per day until collected.

Description

Egyptian Gold Cat Amulet of the God Bastet
Late New Kingdom, 1070-900 B.C. Modelled seated on an arch-shaped base, with simple facial detailing and suspension loop to the reverse. Cf. Andrews, C., Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, item 29(c). 0.50 grams, 8 mm (3/8 in.).

From an early 20th century French collection. The goddess Bastet was considered to be the daughter of the sun god and was originally shown with the features of a lion up until about 1000 B.C. when she is portrayed as a cat or human with a cat head. As the daughter of Ra she is associated with the rage inherent in the sun god's eye which was considered to be his instrument of vengeance. Her development into a cat goddess occurred some time around the New Kingdom but did not fully develop until the Late Period. She is still associated with the destructive power of the sun and is shown on the prow of the solar boat decapitating the evil serpent Apophis in the Book of the Dead. The maternal, protective and hunting characteristics of the cat are the most obvious in Bastet and she is seen as a protector of pregnant women and young children. In the Pyramid Texts she is invoked by the deceased king to act as his protector and to help him reach the sky to join the sun god, and the king proclaims that Bastet is his mother and nurse. Like her counterpart, Sekhmet, Bastet has an aggressive side and in a text from Karnak the Pharaoh Amenhotep II describes how his enemies are slaughtered like the victims of Bastet. The goddess had a shrine at Karnak where she is known as the Lady of Asheru which places her closely with the goddess Mut, the consort of Amun-Ra. Her most famous shrine was in the north-east Delta region at Bubastis and was known as Per-Bastet or the House of Bastet. Herodotus describes the festival of Bastet as one of the most elaborate in all of Egypt and identifies her with the Greek Artemis. Cemeteries of cats have been excavated at not only Bubastis but also Saqqara and Memphis.

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Bidding

Price realized 420 GBP
Starting price 360 GBP
Estimate 400 GBP
The auction is closed.
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