Bastet, goddess of Egypt

Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses for kids - Bastet, the cat goddess

The Mythology & History of ancient Egypt surrounding the Egyptian goddess Bastet, the goddess of cats

 

Bastet, goddess of Egypt
Discover the legends and myths and religious beliefs surrounding Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats. The cat goddess Bastet represented both the home and the domestic cat and the war-like aspect of a lioness. Her cult was centered on her sanctuary at Bubastis and she was also worshipped at Leontopolis along with other Lion-Ra-related gods. The goddess Bastet represented Lower Egypt. Whilst there are many
Cat Goddesses and lion gods, Bastet is the only one represented as a domestic cat. Bastet (also known as Bast) eventually replaced the ancient cult of Mafdet, the earliest cat goddess. Additional, interesting facts and information about ancient Egypt, and its mysterious gods, is also available via:

Who was Bastet?
Bastet was the Egyptian goddess of cats. Egyptian gods and goddesses closely resembled the appearance of humans, but many of their gods, such as Bastet (Bast) were also perceived as 'human hybrids'  depicted with human bodies with the heads of animals. These symbols were used as a recognition aid and a device to visually convey the powers, identity and attributes of the deity.

Facts about Bastet
The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Bastet (Bast):
 

Bastet Profile & Fact File

Egyptian Name:Bastet also known as Bast, Baast, Ubasti and Baset. Bastet's name means, "She of the perfume jar".
 
Role & Function:Sekhmet typified the vicious heat of the burning rays of the sun
Status of Bastet:Benign Goddess of cats the household pets and as a lion-headed warrior goddess. She represented Lower Egypt. 
 
Symbols:The Ankh, the cat, the lioness and the sistrum
 
Cult Centers:Bubastis and Leontopolis
 
Titles:The "Lady of the East", the "Goddess of the Rising Sun", the "Cat Goddess" and the "Devouring Lady"
 
Name in Hieroglyphics:

Translation of Hieroglyphics for Bastet: Oil Jar, feminine symbol and seated goddess
 

The Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

 

The Dual Roles of Bastet in Egyptian Mythology
Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats, featured in the stories, myths and legends in Egyptian Mythology. She was revered as the kindly goddess of pets and household cats and also as the war-like lion-headed goddess. Bastet (also known as Bast) replaced the ancient cult of Mafdet, the earliest cat goddess of ancient Egypt. In her benign aspect Bastet was worshipped as the kindly life giving god of fire, cats, the home and pregnant women. In her malignant aspect Bastet was worshipped as the hostile war goddess and protector of Egypt. Bastet was therefore known as the giver of blessings to the good and a deliverer of wrath to the evil and could be depicted as cat, lion, lynx or cheetah.

Bastet Cat Goddess

Cat Goddesses, Bastet and Sekhmet

Bastet Cat Goddess holding the flint knife or dagger used in ancient Egypt called the Khop

Cat Goddesses - Bastet and Sekhmet

Bastet in ancient Egyptian Mythology
Bastet featured in a major legend relating to ancient Egyptian mythology in which she was credited with killing the Evil Serpent god Apep. In the myth Bastet was the daughter of Ra the Sun God, and every sunrise she fought with Ra against the evil serpent god Apep. After countless battles, Bastet killed Apep and was released from the nightly conflicts. She was  able to roam free and she has become the guardian of home and hearth, the patron of women and of the domestic cat.

Bas relief of Bastet at Thebes

Cat Goddess killing the evil snake god Apep

Bas relief of Bastet at Thebes

Cat Goddess killing the evil snake god Apep

The Cult Centers of Bastet at Bubastis and Leontopolis
The cat goddess Bastet was primarily worshipped at her cult center in Bubastis but she was also worshipped at Leontopolis the cult center of the lion gods of Ra. Bubastis was the Greek name for Tell Basta in Egypt which was also known as Per-Bast, Per-Bastet or Per-Basted and is located in the Eastern Delta of the River now the modern city of Zagazig. Her cult temple at Bubastis was said to rival the temples of Ra and Horus in their magnificence. Her priests kept sacred cats in her temple in Bubastis, which were considered to be incarnations of the goddess. Bastet became a national deity when Bubastis became the capital of Egypt circa 950 BCE. Leontopolis was famous as another cult center of the lion gods associated with Ra the sun god. Leontopolis was located in the central area of the Nile delta as indicated on the following map. The ancient Egyptian name for Leontopolis was Taremu. The Greek name 'Leontopolis' means, "City of Lions" as there were many temples dedicated to the lion gods and deities which contained live lions and cats.

Map of Lower Egypt - Leontopolis and Bubastis

Map of Lower Egypt - Leontopolis and Bubastis

The Cults of Bastet
The cult of Bastet was known for its orgiastic ceremonies. Up to 700,000 men and women made a pilgrimage to Bubastis every year to honor the goddess Bastet  and join in celebrations and grand processions. Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian (c. 484 – 425 BC) wrote:

"... they come to Bubastis (and) they begin the festival with great offerings and sacrifices, during which more wine is consumed than during the whole of the rest of the year".

Aelian (ca. 175 – ca. 235), an ancient Roman historian in writing about Leontopolis said:

"In Egypt, they worship lions, and there is a city called after them. The lions have temples and numerous spaces
in which to roam; the flesh of oxen is supplied to them daily and the lions eat to the accompaniment
of song in the Egyptian language"

Bastet and the Domestic Cat
Domestic cats were kept in households of ancient Egypt and are sometimes pictured in tombs of wealthy nobles. Cats were seen as valued members of the family and played a vital role in attacking any snakes, including cobras, that ventured into the house. Cats also kept the vermin population of Egypt in check, an important role in maintaining the crops stored in the granaries. In the royal palaces of Egypt cats were adorned with jewelled collars and even allowed to eat from the dishes of the pharaoh. The death of a cat called for a period of mourning and members of the family shaved their eyebrows in respect. Cats were regarded as manifestations of the goddess Bastet and as such they were afforded a ritualised burial which included mummification. They were interred as cat mummies in sacred cemeteries that were situated near the temples of Bastet. Over 300,000 mummified cats were discovered when the temple of the cat goddess Bastet, at Per-Bast, was excavated.

Tomb painting of a domestic cat eating a fish

Tomb painting of a domestic cat eating a fish

The Symbols of Bastet - The Sistrum
The symbols associated with Bastet were the cat, the lioness, the Ankh and the sistrum. The connections between the goddess and the cat and the lion are obvious, but what of the ankh and the sistrum?  The 'Ankh' was the cross with the handle which was held in the hands of the gods as a symbol of their power to give life or take it away. The symbol of the ankh meant “life” and represented both physical and eternal life. The sistrum is less obvious, it was an ancient musical percussion instrument, a sacred rattle used in various ancient Egyptian rituals and ceremonies. However, given the reputation of the festivals of Bastet, known for their orgiastic ceremonies, this symbol makes sense.

Sistrum

Picture of a sistrum, the sacred rattle used in ancient Egypt

 

Bastet

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  • Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats

The Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

 

Facts about Bastet in Egyptian Mythology
Discover interesting information and research facts about Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats. The facts about Bastet provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Bastet in Egyptian Mythology.

History, Mythology and Facts about Bastet

Fact 1:Micerino the name of the builder of the third pyramid al Giza also built a Temple in Bubastis dedicated to Bastet.
 

Fact 2:Bastet became a national deity when Bubastis became the capital of Egypt circa 950 BCE and gained importance as a commercial and trading center and place of ritualistic celebration
 
Fact 3:Denderah in Upper Egypt was sometimes known as the "Southern Bubastis".
 
Fact 4:Evidence from tomb paintings suggests that the ancient Egyptians hunted with their cats, who were apparently trained to retrieve prey
 
Fact 5:Bastet (also known as Bast) eventually replaced the ancient cult of Mafdet, the earliest cat goddess
 
Fact 6:Bastet was was originally associated with Ra and the Sun, but the Greeks linked her to Artemis and declared her to be a moon goddess
 
Fact 7:More than 300,000 mummified cats were discovered when the temple of Bastet at Per-Bast was excavated.
 
Fact 8:The cult of Bastet was officially banned by Roman imperial decree in 390 AD. 
 

Offerings to Bastet
The following picture shows a temple scene in which a cat goddess, such as Bastet, is being worshipped. The lotus flower, features strongly in the picture, as does the incense burner. Incense offerings were made on a daily basis and scent played such an important part in temples, daily life and magical rituals. Only priests, priestesses and royalty were allowed inside temples. Ordinary Egyptians worshipped and made offerings at small shrines in their homes. A statue of the goddess Bastet might have been placed on the altar table and ancient Egyptians prayed and gave offerings to the god whilst kneeling on a reed mat.

Offerings to the cat gods

 

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