Bastet’s essential transformation, which Historia says took place around 3,000 years ago, saw the gentle warrior goddess go from woman with the head of a lioness to full-blown domesticated cat.

When I announce that I’m not really a pet person (and especially that I don’t particularly want a dog), people stare at me like I’m a criminal. But at least I’m not as vicious as the world’s first cat ...

The temple is located at Esna, a city in southern Egypt that is about 37 miles (60 kilometers) south of Luxor (ancient Thebes). It is dedicated to Khnum, an ancient Egyptian god associated with ...