Clan of Mafdet Temple

Name: Mafdet (Maftet)

Meaning: She who runs swiftly.
 
Image/ Appearance:
Mafdet is shown as a feline in art - as a woman with a feline (cheetah) head, or a feline with a woman's head - sometimes She is shown with braided hair which ends in the tails of scorpions (most probably the ones She killed). She is also sometimes shown with a headdress of snakes.
 
It seems that Mafdet can be either male or female, being referred to in different places as a lynx goddess or a lynx god.
 
History:
Information on Mafdet is somewhat scarce, as Her cult was replaced by Bast, another cat-goddess, but Her imagery continued - it was associated with the pharaohs including personal items and the bed on which their mummies were placed.
 
A representation of her appears on a vase that was found at a royal tomb in Abydos, which dates from between 2950-2800 BC. It's likely that she is of African origin.
 
Her presence in the Egyptian pantheon dates as far back as the First Dynasty. She was the deification of legal justice, actually of execution. As such, she was associated with protection of the king's chambers and sacred places. She also protected against venomous animals - seen as transgressors against Ma'at.
 
Venomous animals such as scorpions & snakes are killed by felines. Due to this, Mafdet was seen as feline - although there is uncertainty as to whether She was also meant to be a cat, a mongoose or a leopard. This earned her titles such as slayer of serpents.
 
Another depiction found is of Mafdet as a feline running up the executioner's staff. It was said that Mafdet ripped out the hearts of wrongdoers, bringing them to the pharaoh's feet - much like a domestic cat that brings you a rodent or bird they killed.

In the time of the New Kingdom, Mafdet was seen ruling over the hall of judgment in Duat where enemies of the pharaoh were decapitated with Mafdet's claw.
 
She was also linked to illness and cure especially those afflicted by snakebite or scorpion stings.