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Bast

Bast (or Bastet) was an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with protection, fertility, joy, and the home, originally depicted as a lioness-headed figure and later evolving into a cat-headed woman or full cat, reflecting her dual roles as a fierce defender and nurturing domestic deity.^[1] Her cult originated in the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3100–2686 BCE), with the earliest evidence from Saqqara around 2800 BCE, where she appeared as a lioness linked to royal protection and kingship.^[2] Worshipped primarily as the patron of Bubastis (Per-Bast, "House of Bastet") in the Nile Delta, her temple there dates back to at least the reign of Pepi I (c. 2270 BCE) and became a major religious center by the Old Kingdom's end.^[2] Bastet's attributes included safeguarding against evil spirits, contagious diseases, and threats to the pharaoh and household, often symbolized by the sistrum (a rattle for warding off danger) and an ointment jar representing her name's hieroglyphic elements.^[1]^[3] The goddess's prominence surged during the 22nd Dynasty (945–715 BCE), when Bubastis served as the royal capital, leading to extensive temple expansions under pharaohs like Osorkon II and the deposition of vast cat mummies as votive offerings—millions have been excavated from sites like Saqqara, underscoring cats' sacred status as her earthly embodiments.^[4] Her annual festival at Bubastis, described by the Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century BCE, drew up to 700,000 pilgrims who traveled by boat along the Nile amid music, dancing, and wine consumption, culminating in processions of her sacred barque around the temple's sacred lake (Isheru).^[2] This celebration honored her as a joyful, life-affirming figure, contrasting her earlier warlike aspects, and highlighted Bubastis as a hub of trade and cultural exchange with regions like Greece and Nubia.^[4] Bastet was closely linked to other deities, often conflated with the lioness goddess Sekhmet as complementary aspects of the "Eye of Ra"—fierce avenger and gentle protector, respectively—and considered the mother of the lion-headed war god Maahes by Ptah.^[2]^[3] In the Greco-Roman period, she was equated with Artemis due to shared feline and protective traits, influencing her iconography in hybrid forms.^[3] Her enduring legacy is evident in archaeological finds, such as bronze statues from 900–600 BCE depicting her with kittens to symbolize fertility, and inscriptions affirming her role in maintaining cosmic order (maat) through protection of the vulnerable.^[4]^[1]

The Egyptian Goddess

Etymology and Names

The name of the goddess Bast derives from the ancient Egyptian term bꜣstt, transliterated as "Bastet" in modern scholarship, which is widely interpreted as "she of the ointment jar." This etymology, proposed by Egyptologist Stephen Quirke, connects the name to the hieroglyphic sign for the bas-jar, a vessel used for storing protective ointments and perfumes, reflecting her early associations with healing, purification, and safeguarding against evil.^[5]^[6]^[3] The ointment jar symbolism underscores her role in warding off threats, as such jars were believed to contain substances with apotropaic properties in ancient Egyptian ritual practices.^[2] In early Egyptian texts from the Second Dynasty onward, the name appears simply as bꜣs or "Bast," without the feminine ending, indicating an original lioness deity form before later grammatical conventions added the suffix -t to denote the goddess explicitly as Bastet.^[5] This evolution from Bast to Bastet occurred during the Middle Kingdom and later periods to clarify gender in hieroglyphic writing, where the full name was often rendered with the ointment jar determinative (Gardiner sign V30) alongside feline or protective symbols.^[3] The hieroglyphs typically combined the biliteral sign for bꜣ (basket and foot) with the jar, emphasizing her protective essence over time.^[2] During the Greco-Roman period, cultural syncretism led to Bastet's identification with the Greek goddess Artemis, due to shared attributes of protection, the hunt, and feline iconography, resulting in composite depictions and epithets like "Artemis-Bastet" in bilingual inscriptions.^[5] This equivalence facilitated her worship among Hellenistic communities in Egypt, where her name was Hellenized as "Ailuros" (cat) or directly equated with Artemis in temple reliefs.^[3]

Iconography and Symbols

In ancient Egyptian art, Bast was initially depicted during the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BCE) as a fierce lioness-headed goddess, embodying her role as a warrior protector often associated with the sun god Re.^[7] This form emphasized her aggressive aspects, with representations showing her standing or seated, sometimes wearing a solar disk headdress surmounted by a uraeus to signify her solar connections.^[8] She frequently held symbols of life and power, such as the ankh in one hand, underscoring her dominion over vitality and protection.^[9] By the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BCE) and especially the Late Period (c. 664–332 BCE), Bast's iconography evolved to reflect a more domesticated and benevolent character, transitioning to a cat-headed woman or a full feline figure, symbolizing guardianship of the household, fertility, and joy.^[2] This shift aligned with the growing reverence for domestic cats in Egyptian society, as seen in bronze statuettes from sites like Tell Basta where she appears as a slender, seated cat or anthropomorphic figure with kittens at her feet.^[10] The solar disk headdress persisted in some depictions but became less prominent, giving way to simpler domestic imagery that highlighted her nurturing qualities.^[11] Key symbols associated with Bast included the sistrum, a rattle-like instrument she often carried, used to ward off evil spirits and invoke protective music during rituals.^[12] Another attribute was the basket or ointment jar, held in her left hand in many Late Period bronzes, representing fertility and the offering of perfumes for appeasement and household harmony—elements tied to her name's etymological link to "ointment jar."^[11] The aegis, a broad collar necklace bearing a lioness head (sometimes with a solar disk), served as a potent emblem of her protective ferocity, frequently appearing in amulets or as a held object in statuettes from the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332–30 BCE).^[8] Artifacts in gold and green hues, evoking vitality and divine radiance, further accentuated these symbols in temple votives and jewelry.^[9]

Role in Mythology

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Bastet served as one of the "Eyes of Ra," embodying the sun god's fierce protective and vengeful aspects. As a lioness, she was dispatched by Ra to combat the chaos serpent Apophis (Apep), the embodiment of disorder who threatened the solar barque's nightly journey through the underworld. This role highlighted her function in maintaining cosmic order (ma'at) by repelling threats to the sun's rebirth, often depicted in funerary texts where feline deities like Bastet symbolize the expulsion of evil through fire or physical combat.^[13] Bastet shared close mythological associations with other feline goddesses, reflecting syncretic elements in Egyptian cosmology. She represented the gentler, protective counterpart to Sekhmet's destructive fury, with both forming a dual aspect of the Eye of Ra—Sekhmet as the raging warrior and Bastet as the pacified defender. Similarly, her joyful and nurturing qualities linked her to Hathor, particularly in contexts of music, celebration, and fertility, where Bastet adopted Hathor's sistrum as a symbol of harmony. This syncretism culminated in the composite form Bastet-Sekhmet, illustrating the fluid boundaries among solar-eyed deities in Lower Egyptian lore.^[14]^[13] As a guardian deity, Bastet protected the home, women, and children from malevolent forces, extending her solar vigilance to domestic spheres. She patronized music, dance, and joy, fostering communal well-being and emotional balance, while her ties to fertility underscored her role in safeguarding childbirth and family life. In later interpretations, particularly during the Late Period, Bastet gained lunar associations, symbolizing nocturnal protection akin to the moon's watchful cycle, though she lacked major standalone myths and primarily integrated into broader solar narratives of renewal and defense.^[14]^[13]

Worship and Cult Practices

Devotees of Bastet offered votive items such as cat mummies, often buried in large numbers at sacred sites to seek her favor or express gratitude. Over 300,000 cat mummies have been discovered at locations like Beni Hasan, reflecting the scale of these dedications during the Late Period.^[15] Other offerings included jewelry and perfume, associated with Bastet's epithet as the "Lady of Perfumes" and her role in adornment and sensory pleasures.^[5] Pilgrimages to Bubastis, her primary cult center, were a central practice, drawing massive crowds for annual festivals.^[2] Rituals honoring Bastet featured lively processions, music, and dance, particularly during the festival at Bubastis described by Herodotus around 450 BCE. Participants traveled by boat along the Nile, with men playing flutes and women shaking sistra—rattle-like instruments—while singing, clapping, and dancing on the riverbanks.^[2] These events, attended by up to 700,000 people, involved heavy wine consumption and ecstatic behaviors, emphasizing joy and communal celebration.^[2] In households, small shrines with inscribed images of cats or Bastet provided daily protection against evil and illness.^[7] Priests at Bastet's temples managed offerings, mummifications, and oracular consultations, interpreting signs from cat behaviors or dreams to guide devotees.^[16] Women's devotion was prominent, with many participating in rites that invoked Bastet as a protector of fertility and childbirth, including prayers for safe deliveries and family well-being.^[5] A strict taboo prohibited harming cats, viewed as earthly manifestations of Bastet; even accidental killing warranted severe punishment, often death, as recorded by Diodorus Siculus in the first century BCE. In later periods, Bastet's cult integrated with that of Isis, portraying her as an aspect or "soul" of the goddess, blending protective and maternal rites in shared worship.

Historical Development

Origins and Early Worship

Bastet, an ancient Egyptian goddess primarily associated with protection and feline attributes, may have roots influenced by Nubian traditions during the 2nd millennium BCE, though her cult's primary emergence occurred in the Nile Delta region of Lower Egypt. Some evidence suggests early favor among Nubian communities, as indicated in later texts like the Nastasene stele, where Bastet is invoked in protective contexts, potentially reflecting shared cultural exchanges across the southern frontiers.^[17] However, the goddess's earliest attestations appear in Egyptian contexts during the Second Dynasty (c. 2890–2686 BCE), where her name is inscribed on stone vessels from Saqqara, depicting her as a lioness-headed protector often holding a scepter and ankh, symbolizing royal safeguarding and divine authority.^[18] These inscriptions, linked to kings like Hotepsekhemwy and Ninetjer, portray Bastet as a fierce lioness deity, emphasizing her warrior role in warding off threats to the pharaoh and the state.^[17] As a local deity of Bubastis in the eastern Delta, Bastet's worship solidified during the Old Kingdom's Pyramid Age (c. 2686–2181 BCE), where she gained initial solar associations as a daughter of the sun god Ra and an aspect of his protective Eye. In the Pyramid Texts, inscribed in royal tombs from the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties, Bastet is invoked as a nurturing yet avenging mother to the deceased king, nursing him with solar vitality and shielding him from chaos, underscoring her dual role in cosmic order and royal protection.^[17] Her emergence in Lower Egypt likely drew from the region's ecology, where wild lions and lionesses prowled semi-desert fringes near seasonal lakes like Wadi Tumilat, preying on cattle herds and symbolizing guardianship over settlements and agriculture against predators.^[2] This environmental context reinforced Bastet's identity as a protector of homes and communities, with her lioness form embodying the raw power needed to defend vulnerable Delta populations. Archaeological evidence from early Old Kingdom sites further highlights Bastet's warrior aspects, including fragments of stone vessels and sherds bearing her name from the galleries beneath Djoser's Third Dynasty Step Pyramid at Saqqara (c. 2670 BCE), and similar finds extending into Fourth Dynasty tombs.^[2] These artifacts, often depicting her as a seated lioness-headed figure, emphasize her martial prowess in royal provisioning and divine safeguarding, as seen in inscriptions like "Djefaw-Bastet" denoting offerings for protection.^[18] Amulets and small statues from Fourth Dynasty contexts, such as those in elite tombs at Saqqara and Giza, portray Bastet with feline ferocity, underscoring her role as a fierce defender rather than the gentler domestic cat form that would later evolve.^[17]

Evolution Through Dynasties

During the Middle Kingdom, particularly under the 12th Dynasty (c. 1991–1802 BCE), Bastet's cult rose to national prominence, with textual evidence portraying her as a protective deity embodying the ideal sovereign. The "Loyalist Teaching," a key instructional text from this period, equates the pharaoh's role to Bastet, stating that "He is Bastet who protects the two lands," highlighting her as a guardian of Egypt's unity and stability.^[2] This elevation coincided with administrative and architectural developments at Bubastis, including the construction of a governor's palace and associated cemetery nearby, signaling expanded temple infrastructure and her integration into state ideology.^[19] In the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BCE), Bastet reached the peak of her influence, becoming deeply woven into royal theology as a benevolent protector. Depictions of her appear in major Theban temples such as Karnak and Luxor, where she is shown in processions and as a companion to pharaohs, including Amenhotep III (r. 1390–1352 BCE), who invoked her patronage in royal inscriptions and cult practices.^[20] This era marked a gradual shift from her earlier warrior-lioness aspects to a more domestic guardian role, reflecting broader societal urbanization and the rising value of household protection. Evidence from tomb art around 1500 BCE illustrates cats as cherished pets, paralleling Bastet's evolving iconography toward a cat-headed form symbolizing fertility, motherhood, and home safeguarding.^[21]^[2] The 22nd Dynasty (c. 943–716 BCE), known as the Bubastite Dynasty, further amplified Bastet's political significance, with founder Sheshonq I (r. 943–922 BCE) elevating her status through direct patronage tied to his origins in the Delta. As rulers from Bubastis, the dynasty promoted her cult aggressively, expanding temple complexes and portraying her as a supreme state deity, often as the "Daughter of Ra" or "Eye of Ra" in royal titulary.^[22] This period solidified her transformation into a cat goddess, emphasizing maternal and protective traits amid increased cat mummification and votive offerings at her sanctuaries.^[10]

Greco-Roman Period and Decline

During the Hellenistic period following Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt in 332 BCE, Bast underwent significant syncretism with Greek deities, particularly Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and chastity, due to shared attributes of protection and feline associations. The Greek historian Herodotus, writing in the 5th century BCE, explicitly equated Bast with Artemis in his descriptions of Egyptian religion. This identification facilitated the integration of Bast's cult into Ptolemaic society, where her worship blended local traditions with Greek elements, including the construction of temples like the one uncovered in Alexandria dedicated to her during the Ptolemaic era. Herodotus also vividly described the annual festival at Bubastis, her primary cult center, as a massive pilgrimage involving hundreds of thousands of participants traveling by boat along the Nile, accompanied by music from flutes and castanets, dancing, and exuberant celebrations that included heavy wine consumption and animal sacrifices, underscoring the festival's role as one of ancient Egypt's most joyous religious events. In the Roman era after Egypt's annexation in 30 BCE, Bast's cult persisted robustly, with continued practices such as the mass mummification of cats as votive offerings to honor her protective and fertility aspects, a tradition that extended into the 4th century CE. Archaeological evidence from sites like Saqqara reveals cat mummies and bronzes dedicated to Bast from this period, reflecting ongoing devotion despite Roman administrative oversight of Egyptian temples. Her worship spread beyond Egypt to the Roman Empire via trade routes, with artifacts and inscriptions attesting to cults in Italian cities such as Rome, Ostia, Nemi, and Pompeii, where Bast was often syncretized with Diana, the Roman counterpart to Artemis, symbolizing similar themes of domestic guardianship and the moon. However, Roman policies began to curtail temple activities; following the conquest, some sanctuaries faced restrictions or partial destruction, though full-scale suppression accelerated later. Bast's cult declined sharply with the rise of Christianity in the 4th century CE, as Emperor Theodosius I's edicts in 391–392 CE outlawed pagan practices and led to the demolition of major temples across Egypt, including those associated with traditional deities like Bast. By this time, her veneration had waned, supplanted by Christian institutions that repurposed or razed sacred sites, marking the end of organized worship in antiquity. Lingering traces appear in Coptic Christian texts, where figures like Bast were recast as demonic entities to demonize remnants of paganism, reflecting the transition from divine protector to symbol of superseded idolatry. Archaeological finds from the Ptolemaic period (305–30 BCE) illustrate this era's cultural fusion, with statues of Bast often depicted as a cat-headed woman in elaborate Greco-Egyptian styles, such as leaded bronze figures adorned with inlaid eyes, broad collars, and aegises that combined Egyptian iconography with Hellenistic realism and decorative motifs. These artifacts, recovered from sites like Bubastis and now housed in institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, highlight how Ptolemaic rulers promoted hybrid representations to unify Greek settlers and native Egyptians under a shared religious framework.

Associated Places

Bubastis (Primary Cult Center)

Bubastis, anciently known as Per-Bastet or "House of Bastet," served as the primary cult center for the goddess Bast in Lower Egypt, situated in the fertile Nile Delta region approximately 80 kilometers northeast of modern Cairo at the site of Tell Basta near Zagazig.^[23] The city originated around 3000 BCE during the Early Dynastic Period, with initial traces of Bast's worship appearing as early as the Second Dynasty through feline iconography on artifacts.^[4] Bubastis flourished as a major religious and political hub, reaching its peak during the 22nd Dynasty (c. 945–715 BCE), when it became the capital under the Libyan pharaohs who elevated Bast's cult to national prominence, constructing monumental additions to her temple complex.^[24] The Greek historian Herodotus provided one of the earliest detailed accounts of the site in the 5th century BCE, portraying the Temple of Bast as a grand structure elevated on a platform and encircled by a navigable canal branching from the Nile, creating an island-like setting accessible via a tree-lined processional avenue about 3 stades (600 meters) long and as broad as the processional way to the Ishtar Gate in Babylon (approximately 60 meters wide).^[25] He described the temple enclosure as a high stone wall embellished with carved figures, enclosing a sacred grove of lofty trees surrounding a massive altar and the goddess's shrine, with figures six cubits high on the gateway and the propylaea reaching 10 orgyiai (60 feet) in height.^[25] Herodotus highlighted the temple's role in the annual festival of Bast, which drew an estimated 700,000 pilgrims from across Egypt, who journeyed by boat with flutes, castanets, and songs, culminating in exuberant celebrations of music, dance, and offerings at the site.^[25] Archaeological excavations led by Swiss Egyptologist Édouard Naville from 1887 to 1890, sponsored by the Egypt Exploration Fund, unearthed substantial remnants of the temple, confirming Herodotus's observations and revealing its architectural splendor. Naville's team exposed the temple's foundations, including a hypostyle hall supported by red granite columns quarried from Aswan, a festival kiosk erected by Osorkon II for royal rituals, and scattered statues depicting Bast in her feline and humanoid forms, underscoring the site's centrality to her veneration.^[26] Among the most striking discoveries was an extensive cat necropolis containing vast deposits of mummified cats—estimated in the millions—interred in pottery jars and wooden coffins as votive offerings, illustrating the profound devotion to Bast as protector of the home and felines.^[4] Naville also identified remnants of the canal system, including branch channels that facilitated sacred boat processions during festivals, integrating the temple with the Nile's rhythms.^[27] As a thriving Delta metropolis, Bubastis functioned as a vital economic nexus, channeling trade in luxury commodities like perfumes—evoking Bast's symbolic ointment jar, which represented healing and aromatic unguents—and fine linen textiles produced in the region's fertile fields, bolstering the city's wealth through pilgrim commerce and temple endowments.^[28] This prosperity intertwined with Bast's attributes, as offerings of scented oils and fabrics were integral to rituals, enhancing the cult's allure and the site's regional influence.^[29]

Other Sites of Veneration

Bast was venerated in Thebes, particularly through extensions and processions at the Karnak temple complex, where inscriptions from the New Kingdom and Late Period document her sacred bark being renewed and paraded during festivals, such as the feast on the 29th day of the first month of Peret recorded on a stela of Thutmosis III in the Mut temple.^[20] In Memphis, located in Middle Egypt, Bast served as a guardian deity known as the "Lady of Memphis" and was associated in joint shrines with the creator god Ptah, with whom she was sometimes regarded as a consort, reflecting her role in local Memphite theology during the Old Kingdom and later periods.^[30]^[16] At Saqqara in Upper Egypt, extensive catacombs dedicated to Bast, known as the Bubasteion, housed mummified cat offerings from the Late Period onward, serving as a major site for votive deposits despite the official suppression of traditional polytheistic cults during the Amarna period under Akhenaten; however, evidence of continued private devotion persists in documents mentioning chantresses of Bast from that era.^[31]^[32] Bast's cult extended southward into Nubia, where she found favor among Kushite worshippers, with artifacts and inscriptions indicating her veneration in sites like Meroë, demonstrating the southern spread of her protective attributes during the Napatan and Meroitic periods.^[17] In the Nile Delta villages beyond her primary center, household altars and small shrines facilitated everyday worship, emphasizing her domestic role in fertility and protection.^[2] Portable amulets depicting Bast as a cat or lioness were ubiquitous across Egypt, from elite tombs to common graves, underscoring widespread personal devotion that transcended major temple sites and allowed individuals to invoke her guardianship in daily life.^[33]

In Popular Culture

Literature and Modern Myth Retellings

In 19th-century literature, Amelia B. Edwards depicted Bast as a protective deity in her travelogue A Thousand Miles Up the Nile (1877), where she describes the goddess's cult at Bubastis and her dual aspects as a lioness warrior and benevolent guardian against evil, blending historical observation with a sense of mystical allure.^[34] Edwards's portrayal emphasized Bast's role in safeguarding homes and communities, influencing later romanticized views of Egyptian mythology in Western writing.^[35] In modern fantasy literature, Bast features prominently as a character in Rick Riordan's The Kane Chronicles trilogy (2010–2012), where she manifests in the contemporary world by possessing the form of a cat named Muffin, serving as a fierce protector and mentor to the young protagonist Sadie Kane. This retelling draws on Bast's ancient attributes as the goddess of felines and warfare to explore themes of guardianship in a modern magical context. Neil Gaiman's American Gods (2001) includes minor references to Bast as a faded Egyptian deity residing in the American Midwest, where she engages in a brief, intimate encounter with the protagonist Shadow Moon, symbolizing the immigrant gods' struggle for relevance.^[36] Academic retellings provide historically grounded interpretations of Bast, as seen in Richard H. Wilkinson's The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt (2003), which details her evolution from a solar lioness goddess associated with protection and fertility to a more domesticated cat-headed figure embodying joy, music, and domestic harmony. Wilkinson's analysis underscores Bast's syncretic links with other deities like Sekhmet, offering a scholarly foundation for understanding her multifaceted role without speculative embellishment.^[37] Contemporary fiction often reimagines Bast to highlight themes of female empowerment and animal rights; for instance, her protective instincts toward women and children in Riordan's series parallel modern narratives of feminine strength and autonomy. Similarly, Bast's sacred association with cats in these works evokes advocacy for animal welfare, portraying her as a symbol of gentle yet vigilant stewardship over the vulnerable.^[5]

Film, Television, and Comics

In Marvel Comics, Bast belongs to the Orisha pantheon of Wakanda and is depicted as the ancient Panther Goddess and protector deity of the Wakandan Panther Clan, granting enhanced abilities to the Black Panther through the consumption of the heart-shaped herb in a ritual that links the wearer to her divine essence.^[38]^[39] This characterization draws from her mythological roots as an Egyptian feline deity but reimagines her as a panther spirit integral to Wakandan lore, first referenced as the "Panther God" totem in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966), where T'Challa's heritage is introduced without naming her explicitly.^[40] Over time, her portrayal evolved from a distant, gender-ambiguous ancestral figure—initially implied as male in early stories—to a more defined female entity who actively intervenes in mortal affairs, appearing in humanoid panther form to guide or empower heroes like T'Challa and Shuri.^[38] In modern arcs, such as those in Black Panther (vol. 6, 2016–2018) by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Bast assumes a protective yet complex role, manifesting as a warrior advisor during crises like invasions by interdimensional threats, emphasizing themes of legacy and cultural preservation.^[41] In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bast is referenced across several films. In Captain America: Civil War (2016), T'Challa explains, "In my culture, death is not the end. It's more of a stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands, and Bast and Sekhmet, they lead you into the green veld where you can run forever." The prologue of Black Panther (2018) mentions Bast as having helped the first Black Panther become king of Wakanda. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Bast is referenced as the Panther God central to Wakandan spirituality, appearing in visions within the ancestral plane to guide characters like Shuri. In Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Bast appears as a member of the Council of Godheads, portrayed by Akosia Sabet as a black woman in Egyptian attire.^[42] In television, Bastet appears as a prominent antagonist in Stargate SG-1, reinterpreted as a parasitic Goa'uld System Lord who poses as the Egyptian goddess to subjugate hosts and command the Bast Guard Jaffa warriors.^[43] She features in the two-part episode "Summit/Last Stand" (season 5, episodes 15–16, 2001), where she participates in a treacherous summit of System Lords, showcasing her cunning and rivalry with figures like Yu and Ba'al, before her eventual death is referenced in season 8's "It's Good to Be King" (2004).^[44] This portrayal blends ancient mythology with science fiction, portraying Bastet as a manipulative alien overlord whose feline associations manifest in her host's graceful demeanor and strategic ferocity.^[43] Films and documentaries have incorporated Bast through symbolic nods to her cat associations and protective attributes. In The Mummy (1999), the undead priest Imhotep recoils in terror from a common housecat during a confrontation in Hamunaptra, a direct reference to ancient Egyptian beliefs that felines embodied Bastet's power to ward off evil and the restless dead, underscoring the film's reliance on mythological authenticity for horror elements.^[45] These adaptations emphasize Bast's enduring cultural resonance, using visual motifs like cat iconography to evoke her mythological vigilance without delving into full character narratives.

Video Games and Other Media

In video games, Bast appears as a central figure in several titles drawing from Egyptian mythology. In Assassin's Creed Origins (2017), developed by Ubisoft, the Curse of the Pharaohs DLC features a side quest titled "The Cat," where protagonist Bayek searches for a lost statuette of Bastet in the afterlife realm of Aten, rewarding players with experience points and tying into themes of protection and feline reverence.^[46] Similarly, in the free-to-play MOBA Smite by Hi-Rez Studios, Bastet is a playable goddess introduced in 2012, characterized by agile pounce mechanics and area-of-effect damage abilities that evoke her role as a swift guardian against chaos, with her design emphasizing cat-like grace and solar associations.^[47] In Marvel's Avengers (2020), the War for Wakanda expansion allows Black Panther to summon the spirit of Bast, the Panther Goddess rooted in Egyptian mythology, via the "Bast's Chosen" ability for combat assistance.^[48] In Marvel Rivals (2024), Black Panther's abilities draw ancestral power from Bast, depicted as the Panther Goddess adapting the Egyptian deity's attributes.^[49] Beyond gaming, Bast influences music within niche genres and spiritual practices. In modern paganism, practitioners honor Bast through chants and invocations that celebrate her as a patron of joy, music, and domesticity, often performed during rituals with sistrum instruments to invoke her protective energies.^[50] In miscellaneous media, Bast's iconography manifests in neopagan symbols and body art, where tattoos depicting her cat-headed form or ankh-holding silhouette symbolize fertility, home safeguarding, and feminine power, popular among Kemetic reconstructionists since the revival of ancient Egyptian spirituality in the late 20th century.^[51]

Other Meanings

Bast Fibre

Bast fibre refers to the long, flexible plant fibres extracted from the phloem tissue, or inner bark, of dicotyledonous plants such as flax (Linum usitatissimum), hemp (Cannabis sativa), jute (Corchorus spp.), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), and ramie (Boehmeria nivea). These fibres, which support the plant's vascular system, are valued for their strength and are primarily used in the production of textiles, ropes, and cordage.^[52]^[53] In contrast to wood fibres derived from the xylem of trees, which are shorter (typically 1-3 mm) and more rigid for papermaking, bast fibres are elongated (up to 50 cm or more) and more pliable, enabling finer spinning into yarns. Chemically, bast fibres are composed mainly of cellulose (60-75%), along with hemicellulose (10-20%) and lignin (2-10%), where the high cellulose content provides tensile strength comparable to synthetic fibres while remaining biodegradable.^[54]^[55] Extraction begins with harvesting mature stems, followed by retting—a microbial process where stems are immersed in water (water retting) or left in fields (dew retting) for 7-28 days to break down pectins binding the fibres to the surrounding tissues. Subsequent steps include scutching (crushing the stalks) and hackling (combing to align fibres), yielding clean bundles for processing. Ancient Egyptians utilized retting to produce linen from flax bast fibres for clothing and sails, a practice dating back over 5,000 years.^[56]^[57]^[58] Today, bast fibres support sustainable industries due to their low environmental footprint, including reduced water and chemical use compared to cotton. They are applied in eco-friendly apparel, upholstery, and nonwovens, as well as specialty papers and biocomposites for automotive parts. Jute, the most cultivated bast fibre, drives economic growth in Asia, with India and Bangladesh producing over 90% of the global supply (around 3.5 million tonnes annually) and generating billions in export revenue through sacking, carpets, and geotextiles.^[59]^[55]^[60]

Bast as a Surname

The surname Bast has multiple etymological origins, primarily in Germanic languages. In German, Dutch, and French (particularly from Alsace and Lorraine regions of German origin), it derives from a shortened form of the personal name Sebastian (German: Sebastian; Dutch: Sebastiaan), meaning "venerable" or "revered," a name popularized by Saint Sebastian.^[61]^[62] Alternatively, in some German contexts, Bast traces to the Old High German word "bast," referring to bark or fibrous plant material, possibly indicating an occupational name for someone involved in processing fibers or ropes.^[63]^[64] It appears rarely in English-speaking contexts as a variant of Best, potentially linked to nicknames denoting superiority or quality.^[65] Geographically, the surname is most prevalent in Europe, with estimates of approximately 4,383 individuals bearing it in Germany (primarily in regions like Rhineland-Palatinate, based on global surname databases).^[63] It is also common in the Netherlands and among French populations in historically German-influenced areas. Immigration records indicate Bast families arrived in the United States during the 19th century, with the name appearing in censuses from 1840 onward, leading to a population of 2,555 bearers as of the 2010 United States Census, predominantly of White European descent.^[61]^[64] Today, it remains niche, with no widely prominent modern figures outside specialized fields such as academia and the arts. Notable individuals with the surname include William Bast (1931–2015), an American screenwriter and author best known for adapting the novel Hud into the 1963 Academy Award-winning film and co-creating the television series The Colbys.^[66] Another is Gerhard Bast (1911–1947), an Austrian lawyer who served as a Sturmbannführer in the Gestapo during World War II and led a task force within the Einsatzgruppen, later attempting to evade capture before his suicide in 1947.^[67]

Bast in Iranian Culture

In Iranian culture, "bast" (or "bast nešīni") refers to the traditional practice of seeking sanctuary or asylum in designated inviolable places, such as mosques, shrines, royal palaces, and foreign embassies, to escape persecution or legal authorities.^[68] This custom grants temporary protection to fugitives, known as bastīs, and is deeply rooted in both pre-Islamic Persian traditions of hospitality and assistance—derived from Old Persian upastā meaning "help"—and Shia Islamic principles emphasizing mercy at holy sites like the ḥaram (sanctuaries) of imams.^[68] The practice symbolizes a cultural value of compassion, where violators of bast are often considered cursed, reinforcing its moral and religious weight independent of state power.^[68] Historically, bast flourished during the Qajar era (1789–1925), serving as a tool for political protest and negotiation. A prominent example occurred in 1906, when 12,000 to 16,000 demonstrators took bast at the British Legation in Tehran, pressuring the Qajar court to concede to demands for a constitution and limiting monarchical authority.^[68] Under the Pahlavi dynasty (1925–1979), the practice continued amid modernization efforts to curb it, such as Prime Minister Amīr Kabīr's 19th-century restrictions, but persisted in key incidents like the 1935 clergy-led bast at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad against Reza Shah's policies, and Mohammad Mosaddeq's 1953 refuge in the Majles (parliament) during political turmoil.^[68] These cases highlight bast's role in mediating between the oppressed and authorities, often involving chains at sanctuary entrances to signal the refuge-takers' presence.^[69] Key sites of bast include the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran's largest and most revered Shia sanctuary, where architectural features like enclosed spaces historically accommodated refugees; the Golestan Palace in Tehran, particularly around the historic Pearl Cannon; and the Shah ʿAbd-al-ʿAẓīm Shrine near the capital.^[68] Foreign embassies, recognized as bast locations since at least the 19th century, extended this protection diplomatically, aligning with international customs of asylum.^[70] The 1979 Constitution of the Islamic Republic does not explicitly codify bast, reflecting a shift toward centralized legal authority, yet the practice endures as a cultural and religious norm, particularly at shrines, though it has diminished in frequency due to stricter state controls.^[69] Post-revolution, bast has seen limited modern uses in political protests and diplomatic contexts, such as individuals seeking refuge in embassies amid unrest, underscoring its enduring significance as a symbol of mercy and resistance within Shia traditions.^[68]

References

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(PDF) Bastet: a lion and cat-headed goddess - Academia.edu
Since the Early Dynastic Period, Bastet was worshipped as a lion-headed goddess. She continued to be represented in this way in the Old Kingdom.
[2]
The Goddess Bastet and the Cult of Feline Deities in the Nile Delta
It is easy to imagine the rowing of Bastet's sacred barque on the Isheru of her temple at Bubastis was the religious culmination of the festival. Surely the ...
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Egyptian Cat Goddess Bastet, Protector of the King | Ancient Origins
Oct 5, 2019 · Bastet was known originally as Bast, and also Baast, Ubaste, and Baset, and she remains as one of the earliest attested Egyptian deities. Her ...
[4]
Bubastis, ancient Egypt's sacred city of cats | National Geographic
May 7, 2019 · A city sacred to the followers of the cat goddess Bastet. She was worshipped for thousands of years in ancient Egypt, and her popularity peaked during the 22nd ...
[5]
Bastet - World History Encyclopedia
Jul 24, 2016 · Her name was originally B'sst which became Ubaste, then Bast, then Bastet; the meaning of this name is not known or, at least, not universally ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[6]
Cats, Bastet and the Worship of Feline Gods - ARCE
Bastet is probably the best-known feline goddess from Egypt. Initially depicted as a lioness, Bastet assumed the image of a cat or a feline-headed woman in the ...Missing: iconography | Show results with:iconography
[7]
Aegis of Bastet / Sakhmet - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
This aegis has a large suspension loop at the back, possibly for use as an amulet. It also could have been held by a goddess, such as Bastet, who is frequently ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[8]
[PDF] Treasures from Tell Basta - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
sistrum for Bastet. Silver; H. 6 1⁄8 in. (15.5 cm), H. of neck 7⁄8 in. (2.2 ... the sun disk Re emerging from the watery abyss of Nun as a symbol of ...
[9]
some Bronzes from the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest
The study identifies 39 previously unpublished bronzes related to the worship of Bastet. Bastet transitioned from a lion-headed goddess to a cat goddess around ...Missing: disk | Show results with:disk
[10]
Bastet holding aegis and basket - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The goddess Bastet was a powerful protector also known for her fertility. She can be shown with either a lioness head, emphasizing her fierce protective nature.
[11]
Sistrum with a dedication referring to a king - Ptolemaic Period
The sistrum was a a sort of rattle, its rustling sound associated in particular with great female goddesses, for instance Tefnut, Hathor, Isis, or Bastet.Missing: symbol source
[12]
(PDF) Ancient Egyptian and Egyptological Attitudes Towards Cats
Also, the iconography of the Lioness Bastet is little to be distinguished from other Lionesses, as she wears the sun disc and uraeus and carries an ankh and ...Missing: disk | Show results with:disk<|control11|><|separator|>
[13]
Ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses | British Museum
A great warrior of the god Ra, she was often dispatched to fight against the enemies of the sun. When she was tame and calm, she changed into Bastet or Hathor.
[14]
A Brief History of House Cats
Jun 30, 2007 · ... 300,000 cat mummies. Bastet, an Egyptian goddess of love, had the head of a cat, and to be convicted of killing a cat in Egypt often meant a ...
[15]
Bastet (Bast) - Explore Deities of Ancient Egypt
Bastet (Bast). Cats were very important to the ancient Egyptians and were even considered to be demi-deities. Not only did they protect the crops and slow ...
[16]
[PDF] Sekhmet \& Bastet: The Feline Powers of Egypt - PDFDrive.com
Sekhmet and Bastet are well known and popular Goddesses today, and much of their appeal lies in their feline iconography and characters. They, and the other ...
[17]
[PDF] An unpublished Early Dynastic stone vessel fragment with incised ...
The name of the lion goddess2 Bastet (Wbastit) became relatively common early in the Second Dynasty (see fig. 4), during. Hotepsekhemwy's and Ninetjer's reigns3 ...
[18]
The Sacred Waterscape of the Temple of Bastet at Ancient Bubastis ...
Preliminary geoarchaeological surveys have recently provided evidence of a sacred canal at the Temple of Bastet at Bubastis.Missing: expansions | Show results with:expansions
[19]
[PDF] Sacred bark of Bastet Dr. Abdalla Abdel-Raziq
Elsewhere, there are also texts mention a procession of Bastet at Karnak on the 29th of the 1st Month of Prt, a procession at Herakleopolis on the 5th Day of ...<|separator|>
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The Cat in Ancient Egypt: Hunter pampered pet divine goddess
Aug 15, 2024 · By the New Kingdom, a cat or a cat-headed woman had become the most common representation of Bastet. Her main cult centre was Bubastis (Per-Bast) ...Earliest Evidence · Depictions Of Cats · Cat-Headed Goddess
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The Twenty-second Dynasty of Ancient Egypt - Pharaoh.se
Bubastis, located in the eastern Nile Delta and closely associated with the cat goddess Bastet, was a key centre of worship for the dynasty's rulers, who ...Missing: elevation | Show results with:elevation
[22]
Tell Basta - Discover Egypt's Monuments
Tell Basta gets its name from the ancient Egyptian Per-Bastet “the house of goddess Bastet”, which was the cult center of the feline goddess Bastet.
[23]
Ancient Egyptian City of Bubastis - World History Edu
Dec 12, 2024 · Bastet's sacred status influenced Bubastis's prominence, as the city ... The city flourished during the 22nd Dynasty, particularly under Shoshenq ...Missing: Sheshonq elevation
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LacusCurtius • Herodotus — Book II: Chapters 99‑182
Summary of each segment:
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[PDF] Bubastis: An Historical Study - Victorian Voices
Herodotus, who visited it three and twenty centuries ago, says: At the town called Bubastis there is a temple which well deserves to be described. Other tem ...
[26]
The sacred canals of the Temple of Bastet at Bubastis (Egypt)
The sacred canals of the Temple of Bastet at Bubastis (Egypt): New findings from geomorphological investigations and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT).
[27]
The essence and use of perfume in ancient Egypt - Academia.edu
The paper explores the cultural significance and production of perfumes in ancient Egypt, highlighting their luxurious nature and extensive use in religious ...
[28]
[PDF] The Egyptian Textile Industry - eScholarship
This research focuses on the role of textiles and the textile industry during the Egyptian New. Kingdom (c. 1550-1070 BCE). The aim of this study is to develop ...
[29]
Bastet (deity) | Research Starters - EBSCO
Bastet's origin can be traced to Bubastis, which is located in the delta region of the Lower Nile. It was here that a huge temple was dedicated to the Egyptian ...
[30]
Does Bastet belong to a triad? : r/Kemetic - Reddit
Oct 18, 2024 · The association of Bastet with Ptah as consort comes from her local cult at Memphis, where she was worshipped under the epithet "Bastet ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[31]
The Sacred Animal Necropolis at North Saqqara: The Cults and ...
The second “catacomb” is that of the cats sacred to Bastet, located on the eastern side of the escarpment. These have been known since the late eighteenth ...Missing: worship | Show results with:worship<|control11|><|separator|>
[32]
[PDF] archeological survey of india
Bastet Nofretiyti, justified'; and 'his sister, the chantress of Bastet ... historical document relating to the 'Amarna period. Only one other ...
[33]
Ancient Egyptians Believed Cats Had 'Divine Energy' | HowStuffWorks
Feb 27, 2024 · The most widespread belief was that domestic cats carried the divine essence of Bastet (or Bast), the cat-headed goddess who represented ...
[34]
A Thousand Miles Up the Nile, by Amelia B. Edwards: Appendix
Deity of Amenti, or the Egyptian Hades. Worshipped at Denderah. Bast and Sekhet : --Bast and Sekhet appear to be two forms of the same Goddess. As Sekhet ...
[35]
The Project Gutenberg eBook of A thousand miles up the Nile, by ...
Apr 16, 2023 · AMELIA BLANFORD EDWARDS. {i}. Burt's Library of the World's Best Books. A THOUSAND MILES UP THE NILE. By ...
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American Gods Character Analysis - LitCharts
An Egyptian goddess who takes the form of a cat and acts as a lioness protector during times of war. Bast likes Shadow, sleeping with him, healing his wounds, ...
[37]
The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt - Amazon.com
This book examines the evolution, worship, and eventual decline of the numerous gods and goddesses―from minor household figures such as Bes and Taweret to the ...
[38]
Panther God (Bast) Powers, Enemies, History - Marvel.com
The Children of Bast dwell in the mountaintop city Bastet, existing as panthers but becoming human via the magical Eye of Bast gem until its theft. As the ...Missing: Evolution | Show results with:Evolution
[39]
Panther God (Black Panther character/Egyptian God)
(Conan the Barbarian I#226-227 - BTS) - Circa 10, 000 BC, the Children of Bast, dwelled in the mountaintop city Bastet, existing as panthers but becoming human ...
[40]
The best Black Panther stories in all of comics | Popverse
Feb 1, 2023 · So in compiling this list, I reviewed every Black Panther comic, as well as comics that heavily featured any character that has held the mantle ...10. King In Black: Black... · 7. Killmonger's Rage (black... · 2. See Wakanda And Die...
[41]
Bastet - The Stargate Omnipedia - GateWorld
One of the Goa'uld System Lords, Bastet did not come to power until the Goa'uld's second ruling dynasty collapsed.
[42]
All 23 System Lords In Stargate SG-1 (& What Happened To Them)
Apr 2, 2024 · She only appeared in a couple of episodes, and it was later mentioned in Stargate SG-1 season 8, episode 13, "It's Good to Be King," that Bastet ...
[43]
4 Egyptian Myths That Inspired Cinema - TheCollector
Nov 19, 2024 · In Egyptian Mythology, Bastet was the goddess of love, music, fertility, and home. She presided over domestic issues and protected pregnant ...
[44]
Learn About Egypt in Your Homeschool - Peanut Butter Fish Lessons
Ancient Egypt TOOB – 12 Mini Figurines: Nefertiti, Bastet, King Tut, Isis ... PBS series, Egypt's Golden Empire, has 3 one hour episodes about ancient ...
[45]
The Cat - Assassin's Creed Origins: The Curse of the Pharaohs ...
Mar 19, 2018 · Look inside the hull to find the Statuette of Bastet. Grab this to complete the side-quest. Reward: 5,000 XP. Last edited by sokkus on Mar ...
[46]
Bastet - SMITE 2
Bastet pounces to her target location, damaging enemies within the radius. For 4 seconds after pouncing, you can press the button again to pounce back to ...
[47]
Bast/Bastet, Egyptian Cat Goddess - Learn Religions
Jun 16, 2019 · Honoring Bast or Bastet Today · Create an altar in Bast's name, and decorate it with images of cats and lions, baskets, brightly colored crystals ...
[48]
Signs Bastet is Calling You - Celebrate Pagan Holidays
Apr 5, 2022 · Bastet is a goddess from ancient Egypt, and many Pagans honor her in their practice. We often think of her as the “cat goddess”.
[49]
Cats On The Internet: A Psychological Explanation - Forbes
Dec 7, 2012 · Bastet was the Egyptian cat-headed goddess. She was associated with lunar energies: childbirth, fertility, and the feminine. In Greek mythology, ...
[50]
Bast Fibre - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Bast fibre is a type of plant fibre. These fibre plants are dicotyledonous plants. They are flax, hemp, jute, kenaf and ramie.
[51]
BSCI 124 Lecture Notes - Plant Fibers - University of Maryland
Soft or bast fibers are found in the phloem (inner bark) of dicotyledonous stems (flax for linen; jute; hemp; ramie). Hard or leaf fibers are found in ...
[52]
Bast Fibre - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Bast fibres have 60–75% cellulose, which is the main structural component, provides the tensile strength and stability to the plant cell walls and the fibre.
[53]
Era of bast fibers-based polymer composites for replacement of man ...
Cellulose plays a pivotal role in maintaining the structure, strength, and rigidity of bast fibers, with increased cellulose content contributing to improved ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[54]
Retting of Bast Fiber Crops Like Hemp and Flax—A Review ... - MDPI
The retting process involves the controlled decomposition of those substances that bind the fiber containing tissues to the other components of the stalk as ...
[55]
Retting process of some bast plant fibres and its effect on fibre quality
The traditional methods for separating the long bast fibres are by dew and water retting. Both methods require 14 to 28 days to degrade the pectic materials, ...
[56]
Linen Most Useful: Perspectives on Structure, Chemistry, and ...
Linen, the long, strong fibers from flax stems, is considered one of the earliest successes in textiles [3]. While evidence does not exist on how early people ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[57]
FIBER WORLD: Sustainable Alternative Plant Fibers for Textiles
Apr 15, 2021 · Bast fiber supports the phloem's conductive cells and provides strength to the stem; examples include flax and hemp. Leaf fibers, or hard fibers ...
[58]
[PDF] Economic Importance of Jute in Bangladesh: Production, Research ...
Jan 4, 2018 · It is an important cash crop in Bangladesh and India, which together accounts for about 84% of world production of jute fibre [2]. 2. Materials ...
[59]
Bast Surname Meaning & Bast Family History at Ancestry.com®
German, Dutch, and French (Alsace and Lorraine of German origin): from a short form of the personal name German Sebastian Dutch Sebastiaan.
[60]
Last name BAST: origin and meaning - Geneanet
Bast : 1: German Dutch and French (Alsace and Lorraine of German origin): from a short form of the personal name German Sebastian Dutch Sebastiaan.2: French ...
[61]
Bast Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History - Forebears
Bast is most commonly held in Germany, where it is borne by 4,383 people, or 1 in 18,368. In Germany Bast is primarily found in: Rhineland-Palatinate, where 25 ...
[62]
Bast last name popularity, history, and meaning
The surname "BAST" is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "bast," which ...
[63]
Best Name Origin, Meaning and Family History
Best Surname Variants Ranking ; 9, Bast, 75% ; 10, Bisat, 60% ; 11, Beste, 80% ...
[64]
William Bast, Writer for TV Who Penned James Dean Bios, Dies at 84
May 7, 2015 · William Bast, who wrote extensively for both film and TV and was also known for his two biographies of James Dean, died of complications from Alzheimer's on ...
[65]
My family and other Nazis | Nazism - The Guardian
Jul 23, 2024 · The long read: My father did terrible things during the second world war, and my other relatives were equally unrepentant.
[66]
BAST - Encyclopaedia Iranica
BAST (sanctuary, asylum), the designation of certain sanctuaries in Iran that are considered inviolable and were often used by people seeking refuge (bast neš ...
[67]
Politics of Taking Sanctuary (Bast Neshini) in the Shi'ite Shrines of Iran
Jan 1, 2022 · Taking sanctuary in Shi'ite shrines in Iran was a key practice in Iran's pre-modern legal system. It was understood through the framework of the ...
[68]
Iran: The Bast Seekers | TIME
When an Iranian wants to be safe from the police, he reverts to an old custom called bast, or asylum. The recognized sanctuaries are Parliament buildings, ...Missing: practice | Show results with:practice
[69]
Bast (Earth-616)
Marvel Database entry confirming Bast as a member of the Wakandan Orisha pantheon.
[70]
War for Wakanda Expansion for Marvel's Avengers is Available Now
Official Xbox announcement detailing the War for Wakanda expansion, including Black Panther's Bast's Chosen ability summoning the Panther Goddess Bast.
[71]
Black Panther - Marvel Rivals
Official Marvel Rivals hero page describing Black Panther's powers drawn from the Panther God, Bast.