Bastet and the Sistrum – Joy, Protection, and Temple Music
This page has a much softer presence than the Anubis artwork before it. Bastet stands in a sunlit Egyptian temple, holding a golden sistrum with a calm, almost playful expression. The cat ears, long dark hair, purple jewels, white dress, and warm sandstone columns all give the illustration a graceful and welcoming feeling. It is still divine, but the mood is gentle rather than severe.
What I like most is the balance between elegance and simplicity. The line-art version is not overloaded with tiny carvings everywhere. There are enough details to make the page satisfying, especially in the jewelry and staff, but there is also a lot of open fabric and soft hair movement. That gives colorists room to create smooth shading and a polished finish.
Who Is Bastet?
Bastet is an ancient Egyptian goddess often associated with cats, protection, music, joy, perfume, fertility, domestic harmony, and the warmth of the home. Earlier traditions sometimes gave her a fiercer lioness-like quality, but she later became especially connected with the graceful cat. She is protective, but not in the same way as a war god or underworld guardian. Her protection feels closer, warmer, and more intimate.
That side of Bastet comes through clearly in this fantasy coloring page. She does not stand with a blade or thunderbolt. She holds a musical ritual object, surrounded by temple columns and soft light. Her expression is relaxed, and the page invites a lighter palette than many of the darker Egyptian scenes.
In the Anime Gods and Mythic Relics Coloring Book, Bastet adds a lovely change of tone. She brings music and charm into the group of sacred weapons and divine artifacts, reminding us that a mythic relic does not always need to look dangerous to feel powerful.
The Sistrum as a Sacred Instrument
The relic in this page is the sistrum, a ritual rattle used in ancient Egyptian religious practice. It was often connected with music, celebration, worship, and divine presence. In artwork, the sistrum can be associated with goddesses such as Hathor, Isis, and Bastet, and it carries a sound-based kind of sacred power.
That makes it a wonderful object for Bastet. The sistrum is not a weapon, but it can still protect, bless, and transform the atmosphere. In this illustration, the instrument has a tall oval frame with small round bells or beads inside it. It sits close to Bastet’s face and shoulder, so it should be treated as one of the main focal points.
I would color the sistrum with warm gold, but not all in one flat yellow. Use a brighter gold for the outer frame, darker bronze around the handle, and small highlights on the beads. If you use metallic pens, this is one of the best places to use them. A few sparkling points on the round beads can suggest sound and movement.
The Visual Mood of the Page
The whole artwork feels like late afternoon light inside a temple. The background columns are pale and warm, with soft purple accents that echo Bastet’s clothing and jewelry. There is a cat figure on the wall, ankhs on the costume, and a potted plant on the left that adds a small natural touch.
The composition is gentle but still confident. Bastet stands slightly turned, with the sistrum held upright and her other hand relaxed at her side. Her long hair creates flowing black shapes behind the white dress. The cape or veil adds another layer of softness, especially if colored in pale lavender, sheer violet, or light gray.
This is a page where a restrained palette will probably look beautiful. Too many unrelated bright colors could break the calm temple atmosphere. The design already suggests purple, gold, ivory, black, and sandstone, and those colors are enough to create a finished piece with a clear identity.
A Palette I Would Try
For Bastet, I would lean into warmth and elegance: deep violet, antique gold, ivory white, warm brown skin tones, soft lavender, and muted sandstone. The colored reference already shows how well purple and gold work together, but you can adjust the mood depending on your preference.
- Deep purple or amethyst for the belt, collar panels, jewels, and arm bands
- Antique gold for the sistrum, jewelry, trim, chains, and ankh symbols
- Ivory, cream, or soft white for the dress
- Pale lavender or translucent violet for the veil or cape
- Warm tan, beige, and soft ochre for the temple columns
- Black, charcoal, or dark blue-black for hair and cat ears
One practical warning: do not make the purple too dark everywhere. The hair is already a large dark area, and if the belt, collar, veil, and jewels are all very dark purple, the upper body can become heavy. Try using deep violet only in selected areas, then use lighter lavender for the veil and mid-tone purple for the costume panels.
Coloring the Hair and Cat Ears
Bastet’s hair is one of the strongest shapes in the page. It flows down both sides of the body and frames the white dress beautifully. I would avoid filling it with plain black from edge to edge. Instead, start with dark gray, deep brown, or blue-black, then build the darkest shadows underneath the hair layers.
Leave thin highlights along some strands, especially where the hair curves over the shoulder or catches the temple light. A little violet or blue reflection in the hair can connect it to the rest of the palette. The cat ears can be black or dark brown outside, with soft pink, peach, or warm beige inside. Keeping the inner ear slightly lighter makes the character feel more expressive.
The cat motif in the background wall can be colored more quietly. It does not need the same contrast as Bastet’s ears. A faded gold or sandy brown will let it support the theme without pulling attention away from the main figure.
Dress, Jewelry, and Fabric
The white dress gives the page a lot of breathing space. It should not be ignored, but it also should not be overworked. Pale beige, light lavender, or soft gray shadows in the folds will give it shape while keeping it clean. Around the gold trim, a little warm shadow can make the fabric feel layered.
The collar and belt are more decorative. These are good places to alternate purple and gold, with maybe a few tiny turquoise or pink accents if you want extra jewel-like color. The ankhs on the belt are important symbolic details, so I would make them readable with gold against purple or gold against ivory.
The chain at the hip and the tassels below the belt can be handled delicately. Too much dark outlining there may make the lower costume look crowded. Small gold beads with a few darker shadows are enough.
Keeping the Background Soft
The temple background should feel sunlit and calm. I would use sandstone, pale ochre, cream, and very soft brown shadows. The columns can have a little purple or gold decoration, but keep the contrast lower than the main figure. This will make Bastet stand forward naturally.
The plant on the left is a nice chance to add green, but it should be muted. Olive, sage, or dusty green will fit better than bright neon green. The pot can be bronze or warm clay, tying it back to the gold tones in the jewelry.
If you want a dreamy version of the page, make the background very pale and use stronger colors only on Bastet. If you want a richer temple scene, add more gold and purple to the columns, but keep the distant carvings soft.
Final Coloring Thought
Bastet’s page is about gentle divinity. The sistrum gives the artwork a feeling of music, ritual, and joy, while the cat ears and temple setting connect it clearly to Egyptian mythology. It is a peaceful page, but not plain. The details are elegant, and the color choices can make it feel warm, luxurious, and alive.
When coloring this anime mythology coloring book page, I would focus on soft contrast: bright gold against purple jewels, dark hair against a white dress, and warm temple stone behind a graceful figure. Let the sistrum shine, keep the fabric light, and give Bastet the calm glow of a goddess whose power arrives through protection, beauty, and sacred sound.
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