Here is Bastet, the Ancient Egyptian Goddess. Bastet is the daughter of the Sun God. She was often portrayed with the head of a lioness, suggesting ferocity, but in the Later Dynastic period she was mostly depicted in a protective role, as a domestic cat surrounded by kittens. Bastet is the goddess of women, cats, and secrets. She is also the goddess of the sun, enlightenment, truth, lesbians, bounty, the household, sex, fertility, music, dance and the arts. Bastet's holy city Bubastis was said to possess the land's greatest temple. In ancient Egypt, all cats that died were carried to certain sacred houses where they were embalmed and then buried in special cemeteries in the city of Bubastis. This indicates the reverence the Egyptians held for these sacred animals. Bastet is also often identified with Artemis or Diana who is also called the mother of all cats. This was begun five years ago, when I made a mold and poured plaster of paris for the main shape. I have looked at the rough shape often, always with the thought of doing this with it. I carved and worked on the shape until it is the current shape it is. I sealed it with a base coat before putting 5 coats of black enamel on it. I added the jeweled collar with more enamel, then coated it with 2 coats of a clear coat of enamel. It just shines! While working on the ears, one of the tips broke off! I had come so far I didn't want to stop, so I made that ear bent. I added an earring to the bent ear, depicting it to be a heavy earring for this little goddess. I'm so pleased with the results . . . I only wish I could get photo's to do her justice!