ATUM IS A FORM OF THE SUN-GOD. HE IS DESCRIBED AS THE ALL-POWERFUL 'LORD TO THE LIMITS OF THE SKY' AND HE WEARS THE CLOTHES
AND REGALIA OF A PHARAOH. SOMETIMES HE SYMBOLIZES THE SUN SETTING ON THE WESTERN HORIZON.
Before the world existed, Atum floated as a substance containing the seeds of life in a primaeval watery expanse called Nun.
He emerged, self-created, standing on a mound called the benben. The ancient Egytpians took this image from the mounds of
fertile silt that emerged from the waters of the Nile once the annual flood began to subside. Atum then created the first
couple, Shu and Tefnut.
Every night Atum journeys through the Underworld, executing enemies and over-throwing the gigantic serpent called Apophis.
Atum had a number of sacred creatures including the lion, mongoose and snake.
Bastet statues were sometimes
depicted as a women with a
cat's head
BASTET
THE CAT-GODDESS BASTET IS THE DAUGHTER OF RE, THE SUN-GOD. ORIGINALLY SHE WAS A LIONESS AND COULD INSPIRE TERROR.
She also protects royalty. About 1000 BC her image changed and she was more frequently represented as the cat, who destroys
vermin but is friendly to people.
Bastet's main cult centre was in the Egyptian Delta at Bubastis. Today massive fallen red-granite blocks mark the site of
the temple. Nearly 2500 years ago a famous Greek writer called Herodotus visited Bubastis during the festival of Bastet. He
describes how everyone arrived in barges singing, playing pipes or shaking clappers and drinking wine.
Sacred cats lived in Bastet's temple. When they died, they were mummified and wrapped in linen with often a rather surprised
look painted on their faces. A bronze mask was placed over their heads, they were put into a coffin in the shape of a seated
cat and buried in the temple cemetery.
