START WITH ART: Figurine of the Goddess Bastet as a Cat

We START WITH ART each morning with our kids (Jenna's kids are 6 and 10, Janet's is 9). This takes us less than five minutes each morning and tends to be re-visited later in the day at the dinner table or during our evening reading sessions. We find this little exercise each morning ignites creativity and sparks critical thinking. 

Here's how to #STARTWITHART:

Step one: Take a look at the artwork below

Step two: Read the questions below the picture of the art to the students/children in your life

Step three: See how starting your day with art can ignite creativity and critical thinking! 

It's that easy! Let's START WITH ART!

Title: Figurine of the Goddess Bastet as a Cat

Date: Egypt, 21st - 26th Dynasty (1081 - 525 B.C.)

Medium: Bronze, inlaid gold

Dimensions: 6.99 × 3.02 × 4.45 cm

Start with Art Questions:

• Bastet was a is a goddess of ancient Egyptian religion. What qualities and characteristics does she represent, and why do you think artists depicted her as a cat?

• What details can you observe in the Figurine of the Goddess Bastet? Take a close look at the figurine. What features does the cat have, and are there any symbols or accessories that might provide clues about the goddess's identity? How does the artist capture the essence of Bastet in the sculpture?

• If the cat could come to life, what do you think it might be capable of? What adventures or magical qualities could a cat associated with a goddess have? 

Add our START WITH ART calendar to yours by clicking here then click "add." Share how you're folding this into your daily routine by tagging us on Instagram @pageofarthistory and/or the tag #startwithart 🖼️