The Role of Feline Goddesses in Advancing Women’s Rights in Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians highly valued cats, worshipped female feline deities, and granted women more rights than other ancient civilizations. These three facts are widely acknowledged, but they have an intriguing link—and the key lies in the divine feline. This paper explores the extent to which ancient Egyptian feline goddesses, particularly Bastet, Sekhmet, and Mafdet, contributed to the treatment of women and their freedoms that surpassed those of women in other ancient civilizations. Examining historical records, religious artifacts, and scholarly journal articles, it illustrates how feline deities shaped gender dynamics in ancient Egypt. By analyzing the relationship between cats, feline deities, and women, this paper argues that the divine feminine played a critical role in advancing women’s rights in ancient Egypt, offering a historical precedent for gender equality that remains relevant in discussions of women’s empowerment today. Part of the panel: Alternative Narratives and VisibilityModerator: Professor Patricia Schechter