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Journey to ancient Egypt in Return of the Cat Mummy

Jun 21, 2023

[[read-time]] min read

Return to life as a cat mummy and help save the pharaoh’s journey of eternity in a race against time.

Salima Ikram
Distinguished Professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, American Research Center in Egypt Board Member
Game poster showing the title “Return of the Cat Mummy” and different characters found in the game. In the center the cat mummy is extending its paw to touch a canopic jar.

Ancient Egyptians believed animals played an important role in the afterlife. Cats were symbols of the goddess Bastet — the cat-headed deity — and were revered so much by the Egyptians that they were sometimes even mummified before being buried as pets, offerings to the gods or as gods themselves.

A new video game from Google Arts & Culture

In Return of the Cat Mummy, you play as a cat mummy who has been brought back to life by the cat goddess Bastet. Your mission is to collect the missing items necessary for the pharaoh's afterlife journey, in a race against time. Throughout the five levels, you'll be challenged by obstacles inspired from ancient Egyptian life and beliefs in the short time you have back on Earth.

  • The cat mummy standing between fields of wheat and the river, facing a crocodile, beneath a palm tree.

    Start the video game at the river with nine lives, collecting items for the mummification ceremony.

  • A long tube of a wrapped cat mummy, where you can see the cat’s face painted on the outside.

    Cats were important in ancient Egypt. People dedicated mummified cats at the sanctuary of the cat goddess Bastet as offerings.

    As pets, they were mummified and sometimes placed in tombs with their owners so they could remain together in the afterlife.

  • A seated side profile of a black cat statue, with brightly painted eyes.

    Bastet is the goddess of protection, mothers, children and bringer of good health, known for nurturing and motherly qualities.

    Bastet was a guardian from evil, and was often featured on amulets and talismans.

  • A painting of an orange cat with black stripes, holding a knife over a gray spotted serpent, next to a painted tree.

    In the game’s final level, the cat mummy is chased by the Lord of Chaos, Apep, to try and stop it from achieving its goal. This depiction shows a cat killing the serpent, Apep.

  • An illustration from the game showing the cat mummy and the pharaoh on a boat in a green river filled with monsters such as a giant serpent.

    After successfully completing the game, the cat mummy accompanies the pharaoh in their journey to the afterlife, armed with the collected items for a safe passage.

What was needed for an eternity of happily ever after?

Ancient Egyptian pharaohs and high-ranking individuals were buried with a variety of lavish items, such as furniture, jewelry, clothing, food and shabtis (small servant statues), to ensure a comfortable afterlife for the deceased. Most of the burial items, such as amulets and books of the dead were added within or around the coffin, to aid the journey to the afterlife and provide spiritual protection along the way.

Start the adventure and learn more about ancient Egypt on Google Arts & Culture.

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