Leontopolis
Lower Egypt Cult Center of the Egyptian Gods
Sekhmet and Bastet

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Leontopolis or ancient Taremu was prominent during the Ptolemaic Period and was probably the center of a powerful Delta kingdom during the Third Intermediate Period (about 1069 through 664 BC). It was also the ancient capital of the 11th Lower Egyptian Nome.

Leontopolis is believed to be connected with the worship of the lion-headed gods, Sekhmet and Bastet. Evidence of worship of a local lion god Mihos is evidenced by the many finds of lion amulets.

Sekhmet

Rameses the Great offers to Sekhmet

Sekhmet was he consort of Ptah, she is the giver of devine retribution, vengeance, and conquest.

She meted out devine punishment to the enemies of Ra and the Pharaoh and was called an"Eye of Ra." Her personification is a lion-headed woman. Sekhmet is the polar opposite of Hathor as explained in the legend of Sekhmet and Hathor.

Sekhmet was worshiped at Memphis, the city of Ptah, but also at Leontopolis, where all the lion-headed and cat-headed gods associated with Ra were worshipped.

Bastet

Bastet, souvenir copy of statue.

Bastet, the cat goddess. Bastet was the daughter of Ra. She was originally associated with the Sun, but the Greeks linked her to Artemis and declared her a moon goddess.

Bastet was a giver of blessings to the good and a deliverer of wrath to the evil, just as was Sekhmet.

The domestic cat was sacred to Bastet. The cult temple of Bastet at Bubastis was said to rival the temples of Ra and Horus. Bastet was also worshipped at Leontopolis along with other Lion-Ra-related gods.

Mummified cats were offered to the god Bastet, and the domestic cat is thought to have been produced by cross breeding in the "catteries" of the temples.

Domestic cats were kept in households of ancient Egypt and are sometimes pictured in tombs of Nobles. The death of a domestic cat called for a period of mourning and it is said that the household shaved their eyebrows in respect.

Lower Egypt Cult Centers of Egyptian Gods