Bastet

Bastet is the cat goddess of Lower Egypt, protector of the home, women, and children, and bringer of music, dance, and joy. Once a fierce lioness goddess, she softened over time into the gentler form of a cat, though she keeps the lioness's protective ferocity. As a daughter of Ra she defends her father against his enemies, linking her to the dangerous Eye of Ra. Her cult center was Bubastis, where Herodotus describes huge, raucous festivals drawing crowds by riverboat for music and wine. Cats were sacred to her, kept and mummified in vast numbers, and to harm one was a grave offense.