A few weeks ago, a research article described a new genus of prehistoric mammal – Bastetodon. The name was enough to get my attention, and yes, it honors Bastet herself. Fitting enough, since the described skull was recovered in the Fayum Depression of Egypt. This is now a vast, arid basin, but in the Oligocene epoch it was nothing short of a lush oasis.

There’s this kind of opaque quality to ancient life that gives us a little creative freedom when we imagine them, especially in the coloration department. So here’s my own take. Even if the simplest forms of metallurgy were probably beyond the grasp of Oligocene anthros, gold jewelry is too entwined in my imagination of old Egypt not to include one or two pieces. Allow me this one extra conceit >.>

If I’m being totally candid, part of the motivation for drawing her was knowing this could be the first furry interpretation of the species. Yeah, there’s some micro-clout to be claimed when you’re the first to draw the hot new character that just dropped, and admittedly this is a whole lot easier when it’s a 30 million year old hyaenodontid than the new Bad Guys waifu. But I doubt anyone’s been champing at the bit for naked Bastetodon art, so any special satisfaction that comes out of this is probably mine alone.

Prep sketches, color thumbnail, and line art are hosted on Patreon.