Flowing, expressive and prominent, 'The Cat & the Snake' is a wonderful depiction of friend and foe. The characters of the cat and the snake hark back to ancient Egyptian deities. In ancient Egypt the cats were praised as protectors of the home. The goddess Mafdet was one of ancient Egypt's first deities, worshipped by people seeking protection against dangerous animals such as snakes and scorpions. Depicted in a variety of fearsome feline forms, most frequently as a woman with the head of a lion, cheetah, or domestic cat. Mafdet was regarded as the defender of the home and kingdom. The relationship between cats and snakes was heavily document throughout Egyptian history.

Charles K. Wilkinson (1897 – 1986), 'Cat Killing Serpent' (1920 CE)

This facsimile painting depicts a scene from Sennedjem's tomb (TT 1) in western Thebes' Deir el-Medina. Chapter 17 of the Book of the Dead is related to the cat killing the serpent. The original work was painted 1295 BCE.
We see the pharaonic revival style and aesthetic sensibilities that we associate with Moussa and the hallmark of twentieth century Egyptian sculpture. Moussa was the second generation of Egyptian sculptors. He was taught and influenced by Mahmoud Said and Mahmoud Mohktar, two of the great Egyptian painters and sculptors.

Moussa participated in several group exhibitions in Cairo and Alexandria including several appearances at the Alexandria Biennale. Moussa won the prize for sculpture in 1955 at the Alexandria Biennale.