Episode 36: Ancient Egyptian Gods Get Astral Facelift

Il-wey! As the last vestiges of summer heat were receding and being replaced by cooling winds, my Instagram friend Tarotandabunny contacted me about a Kickstarter campaign featuring ancient Egyptian gods that happened to include a cat mummy.  It did not take me long to decide to back this project, and this past weekend, I received the pins! 

New Zealand artist, Lucia Fusco, created five enamel lapel pins showcasing Bastet, Horus, and Apophis.  Bastet is probably one of the most recognized gods because the Gayer-Anderson cat that is displayed in the British Museum and replicas can be purchased in the museum gift store.  Fusco created two Bastet designs: Cosmo Bastet, reminiscent of the Gayer-Anderson cat, but with gold wings; and a reclining Baby Cosmo Bastet with a glittery cloud pillow.  In the former, one can imagine Bastet, ever the vigilant fierce protector.  In the latter, there is a playfulness in the kitten’s repose, eyes closed and the hint of a smile.  This design comes in blue and pink. 

Starbound Apophis is an unusual choice because he is not as familiar to the general public.  While Bastet was being worshipped as early as the Second Dynasty (2890 BCE), Apophis was first mentioned in the Eight Dynasty (sometime between 2190 – 2118 BCE).  In art, he is depicted as giant snake and represents chaos. Embodied with a magical gaze, Apophis is often subdued by Ra, the bringer of light as the solar deity (traveling across the daylight sky).  Ra is also represented as a cat that slays Apophis. In Fusco version, Apophis takes flights as an astronaut with a coiled body and a determined gaze. 

The fourth design is Galactic Horus.  Along with the sitting Bastet, Fusco channels a recognizable representation of Horus in her design.  Horus is a significant god in the ancient Egyptian mythology and originated from late prehistoric Egypt.  Horus is usually regarded as the son of Isis and Osiris.  He fought his uncle, Set, who killed and dismembered Osiris.  Horus was often portrayed as a falcon in hieroglyphs and in statue form.  If you have seen the film Gods of Egypt, Horus was portrayed by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

“Lucky Scarab Meowummy” does not represent a specific god, but the cat haphazardly wrapped in linen holding a ball of linen with a starry moon shape and an inquisitive scarab is adorable.  It is probably one of the cutest interpretations of a mummy in popular culture that I have come across in recent months.  It was a nice touch to symbolize the linen as a ball, like a ball of yarn that a cat would most assuredly play with if given the opportunity.  The scarab is often associated with protecting mummies, so it seems natural and appropriate that a little green scarab watch over meowummy. 

Fusco currently has her Ancient Space Amulet pins available in her Etsy store, Sweetaspins, for those who are interested in purchasing one or all of the pins (click here for a link to her store).

Senebti! 

All photos by author.