While this may look like a statue πππππΎ of Bastet π―πππ, itβs actually a cat π ππ ±π mummy!
There are many different ways that animal mummies have been found. Some are wrapped in linen π± while others are found in these elaborate statue-like coffins π΄π ±πππ±. These types of mummy-wrappings were popular during the Late and Ptolemaic Periods.
Cats π ππ ±π πͺ were sacred animals in Egypt ππ ππ because they were thought to represent the soul π of Bastet π―πππ or Sekhmet πππ ππ. Much like today, cats π ππ ±π πͺ were also pets in Egypt ππ ππ and cat π ππ ±π mummies have been found in human tombs ππ«πππ¦ as well. The thought is that the cat π ππ ±π and the owner would be able to stay together ππ in the afterlife πΌπΏππ if they were buried together ππ.