In time, Bastet’s depiction changed from a fierce goddess to a milder one. This gained her the titles of "Lady of the Flame" and "Eye of Ra", thus symbolising the fertilising force of the Sun's rays. Click OK to continue & enjoy. In her depiction as cat, Bastet is believed to have the power to protect against diseases particularly in women and children. Her symbols are cats. Like many Egyptian gods and goddesses, Bastet has a number of origin stories. This Goddess is also identified with "Nubian cat," depicted with the body of a spotted cat and the head of a Nubian woman. Goddess symbols are individualized for each goddess. The writer is not... Hmmm, check rest of Africa and let us know the %... Other names of the Festival of Bast include. And not only was Bastet the protector of the home, she was also seen as fertility goddess. Bastet Symbol, Colors and Incense for Worship - Deities - Cryptids Guide. The sistrum is an ancient Egyptian percussion instrument. She also defended the Egyptian pharaohs in battles. Specifically, she is often portrayed as a female cat in a seated position. Required fields are marked *. This turned her from a ferocious lioness into a gentle cat. This has become a symbol of Bastet because she was also the goddess of joy, celebration and dances. Whereas her twin sister Sekhmet was seen as the protectress of  Upper Egypt, Bastet was revered as the deity who protected Lower Egypt. The daughter of Re, the sun god, Bastet was an ancient deity whose ferocious nature was ameliorated after the domestication of the cat around 1500 bce. The ancient Greeks had a different name for Bastet; they called her Ailuros, which translates to “cat”. This change occurred around Third Intermediate Period of Egypt. | Image – Wadjet-Bastet, with a lioness head and the solar disk, Tags: Ancient Egyptian religionBastBastetIsisRaSekhmet, Your email address will not be published. This area was called Bubastis (close to present-day Zagazig). Bast Goddess. . In many depictions, the goddess is shown as slender woman in a beautiful dress with a cat head. Neither is she a solar goddess. Egyptians believed that Bastet’s sphere of control stretched beyond protection and fertility; she had her hands in issues such as the arts, music, and general well goodness. ... Bastet or Bast. "Bast" was her earlier name. A goddess of love, sex, fertility, and battle, Anat was a Canaanite and Semitic deity who became popular during the end of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom period. Ancient God and Goddess Symbol Meanings. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Such was the importance and reverence of cats that the mummified cats were buried close to their human owners. your own Pins on Pinterest Today, Egyptologists typically refer to Bast as Bastet, because of variants in the spelling that came along later. Ancient Egyptians had different ointments that were used to ward off evil spirits. In some accounts, Nefertum is seen as the son of Bastet. Other symbols of Bastet are the solar disk, an ointment jar and a sistrum (an ancient percussion instrument). Owing to Bastet’s association with mankind’s little feline friends, cats were treated with the utmost of respect. She was native to Bubastis in the Nile River delta but also had an important cult at Memphis. From the union between Bastet and Ptah came Maahes, the lion-headed god of war and weather who protected the innocent and avenged wrong deeds. Bast Goddess Egyptian Goddess Egyptian Mythology Wiccan Witch Witchcraft Magick Grimoire Book Child Of Light Egyptian Symbols. Bastet’s name began as bꜣstt or Ubaste in the early periods of ancient Egypt. A Source for Reclaiming the Gifts of the Sacred Feminine. She could also doom a city or region with plague and diseases and other forms of natural disasters. Below, we have put together 8 key facts about Bastet: Ancient Egyptians believed that Bastet’s rage was cooled down by the the lake around the temple in Bubastis. In the early periods of ancient Egypt, Bastet was depicted as a lioness, similar to the role her twin sister, Sekhmet (Egyptian goddess of healing and warfare) played. Similar to the reverence modern India gives to cow, ancient Egyptians awarded a very high reverence to cats. Bast was known as a goddess of warfare in Lower Egypt during the period in which Egypt was still divided. This attribute again stems from the fertile nature of domestic cats. Participants of the festival drank and made merry in a bid to appease Bastet. Her name is also translated as B'sst, Baast, Ubaste, and Baset. All Rights Reserved. Wiccan Witchcraft Bast Goddess Goddess Symbols Egyptian Mythology Ancient Egypt Deities Incense Worship. 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 agreed upon. He even went as far as saying in his famous speech... No Robert Mugabe or Muamar Gaddafi ....western propaganda....those guys fought for... What about Siad Bare of Somalia ??? Saved from goth-witch.webspace.virginmedia.com. mice, snakes and rats) from our homes. Her symbols are cats. As a cat Goddess she also protected houses from rats and snakes and so ensured the health of the occupants. Bastet: ancient Egypt's cat goddess. She could also vanquish all threats from evil spirits. This compelled the Egyptians to surrender to Persians in 525 BCE. Replica goddess, Bast or Bastet of ancient Egyptian. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: 10 Major Accomplishments, The Boston Massacre: The American Revolution, Julius Caesar: History, Accomplishments and Facts. Please check your entries and try again. The goddess Bastet has been associated with Nefertum, the god of perfume and sweet things. To learn more about Bast go to these websites Per Bast and the wikipedia entry here Bast Wiki Entry. For this action of hers, she earned the epithet, “The Lady of the Flame”. Bastet rode daily with the sun god, Ra in Ra’s sun barge (the Boat of Million Years). Geraldine Pinch claims that \"her name probably means She of the Ointment Jar\" as she was associated with protection and protective ointments (115). Dec 10, 2016 - “Bast’s themes are animals, magic, overcoming, playfulness, joy and humor. Prior to her association with cats, Bastet was primarily associated with a lioness. Many have associated Bastet’s name with the hieroglyphic symbol for an ointment jar (bꜣs). Her association with cats stems from the manner in which cats ward of vermin (i.e. If you want to know more, check out our Privacy/GDPR (and Cookie) Policy. Let us talk about the Bastet symbol. Other symbols of Bastet are the solar disk, an ointment jar and a sistrum (an ancient percussion instrument). They were more or less considered royal materials in the land of Egypt. “All things manifesting in the lower worlds exist first in the intangible rings of the upper spheres, so that creation is, in truth, They were often worn as jewelry and used in the household decor or on altars as talismans to seek the goddesses special gifts, blessings, or … Prayer to Bast,Bastet. In order to avoid the wrath of Bastet (i.e. At the same time, cultures in Upper Egypt honored Sekhmet, a similar cat-headed goddess of battle. Her symbols are cats. These were also a part of the worship ritual for each deity. They were often worn as jewelry and used in the household decor or on altars as talismans to seek the goddesses special gifts, blessings, or protection. Thus she was responsible for all the bloodshed and carnage that took place in the land of Egypt. The prevalent myth about Bastet states that she was born to the creator god Ra (or Re) and the goddess Isis. BAST: EGYPTIAN GODDESS OF PROTECTION AND PLEASURE. She was the one who protected the entire home, hence her importance in Egypt. Over time, her powers and abilities shifted from aggressive and terrifying in nature to a softer one – a more nurturing trait. Apr 7, 2015 - "Bast's themes are animals, magic, overcoming, playfulness, joy and humor. Prayer to Bast The goddess Mafdet, the deification of justice and execution, was a lion-headed goddess. Bastet was the ancient Egyptian goddess of protection and cats.She was the warrior daughter and defender of Ra, who sent her to fight his archenemy Apep.As protectress, she was seen as defender of the pharaoh, after Sekhet, the lioness, and consequently of the chief god Ra.. Bast is also known as Bastet, Ubasti, and Pasch.She was worshiped at least since the Second Dynasty in Ancient Egypt. Learn about the symbols, family tree, and facts about Bastet. Updated September 17, 2020, Ancient Egyptian Goddess Bastet, Goddess of Cats, Protection and fertility. There is also a book about Bast called Bast, Cat Goddess of Ancient Egypt by Linda Illes. This trait comes from emerges from the manner in which cats took care of their young. Bast is the Egyptian cat-faced Goddess of sorcery, beneficence, joy, dance and fertili… As Bast, she was the goddess of warfare in Lower Egypt, the Nile River delta region, before the unification of the cultures of ancient Egypt. And because men valued the women in their lives, Bastet’s popularity was also pronounced among men. Bastet, also called Bast, ancient Egyptian goddess worshiped in the form of a lioness and later a cat. This name is in line with Bastet being the daughter of Isis. Jul 29, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Amy. Ancient Egyptian Cat or Lioness Goddess. Every family had a domestic cat. Goddess symbols and Wicca symbols are almost interchangeable. In the Late and Ptolemaic periods large cemeteries of mummified … See more ideas about bast, bastet, egyptian cats. No matter what your faith or belief, the existence of ancient gods and goddesses in history and various cultures is undeniable. Often times, she is holding a sistrum in her right hand and an aegis (a breastplate) in the other hand. Bastet Symbol, Colors and Incense for Worship - Deities - Cryptids Guide. All those deities had a very close relationship with the creator god, Ra. It’s a sacred rattle, which priests used in various rituals and ceremonies. Her symbols are cats. complete with thousands of revelers floating down the Nile drinking, dancing, gyrating, and shouting to the townspeople on the bank. Owing to her association with fertility and pregnancy, Bastet earned the title “the Eye of the Moon”. Aside Bubastis, Bastet had important cult followings in ancient. "Bast's themes are animals, magic, overcoming, playfulness, joy and humor. Where the world comes to learn! It was for the above reasons Bastet was given the epithets such as – The Lady of Dread and The Lady of Slaughter. The festival attracted more than 700,000 visitors, according to an account by Herodotus. Although she initially began as a goddess of the sun based on her father’s powers, her appearance was predominantly feline, and it changed over time from a wild lioness to a domesticated cat. Aside from defeating Apep, Bastet also protected the souls of dead during their journeys in the underworld. In terms of popularity, Bastet was second only to Isis in ancient Egypt. Let us talk about the Bastet symbol. Bast is the Egyptian cat-faced Goddess of sorcery, beneficence, joy, dance and fertility. Bast and Her… The book apparently has more information than has been previously published in English. In that role she was seen in almost the same light as the goddess Sekhmet (deity of war and healing). She was depicted as a domestic cat or a woman with a cat head. Name in hieroglyphs Major cult center Bubastis Symbol the cat, the lioness, the… The temple was surrounded by water. Bast is the Egyptian cat-faced Goddess of sorcery, beneficence, joy, dance and fertili… It peaked during the Ptolemaic era. Since Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft, it should come as no surprise that many of her goddess symbols play a prominent role in the celebration of Halloween. It possibly meant either "Soul of Auset" (Auset being an alternative name for "Isis," who is sometimes considered her mother), or "devouring lady." Bastet is often associated with a group of deities who belong to the Eye of Ra. World History Edu © 2020. Goddess symbols, individualized for each goddess, were incorporated into the worship of the ancient goddesses. Around the temple in Bubastis, Egyptians took to mummifying their dead cats in honor of Bastet. Bastet’s worship places were predominantly in Lower Egypt, particularly in the Nile Delta. In the courts of Egyptian pharaohs, cats were dressed in magnificent jewelries. The Goddess Bastet Bastet is the name commonly used by scholars today to refer to a feline goddess of Ancient Egyptian religion who was worshipped at least since the Second Dynasty. Worldhistoryedu is not responsible for the content of external sites. From around the third millennium BCE Bast (also referred to as Baast, Ubasti and Baset) originated as a protector Goddess of Lower Egypt (the delta of the Nile River), where she was seen as the defender of the ruling pharaoh, and consequently Ra, the Solar deity. Something went wrong. It is believed that she protected the inhabitants of those regions. She is a goddess of intuition and can enter our dreams. There were also shrines in their homes to honor and worship Bastet. "Bastet (or Bast), the Egyptian goddess of cats, featured in the stories, myths and legends in Egyptian Mythology. Goddess symbols, individualized for each goddess, were incorporated into the worship of the ancient goddesses. So the Crescent Moon, the Spiral, the Circle and so on are common Wicca symbols. Like many Egyptian deities, the worship of Bastet was very widespread in Egypt, especially in places such as Bubastis during the Second Dynasty (2900 BCE). It was believed that she protected Ra by killing the nefarious serpent known as Apophis (Apep) with a knife in her paw. This comes from a myth about a distant Goddess as the daughter of Ra quarrels with her father and retreats to the desert. The goddess Mafdet was the Egyptian deity of justice and truth – almost similar to the role. The name translates to “the Soul of Isis”. Mummies, pyramids, homework help, Cleopatra, King Tut, tombs, amulets, maps, gods, Narmer, worksheets, maps, coloring pages and more. . See more ideas about Bastet, Bastet goddess, Egyptian cats. Chosen by the Libyan kings starting around the 22nd Dynasty, the worship place was one of the richest worship sites in ancient Egypt. Being a cat in nature, Bast teaches us to land on our feet in any situation, using a … Egyptologist and scholars alike are often left scratching their heads trying to find the meaning of those names. Apr 26, 2018 - Explore Amy's board "Bastet Goddess", followed by 176 people on Pinterest. According to the Greek historian Herodotus’ description, Bastet’s temple at Bubastis (House of Bastet) was a magnificent place to behold. 10 Most Famous Firsts in American Women’s History, Rwandan Genocide – Summary, Death Toll, & Facts, Suez Canal – History, Construction, Significance, Map, Crisis, & Facts, Steve Biko: 6 Memorable Achievements of the South African anti-Apartheid Activist. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As Bastet was the goddess of cats, she was usually depicted with a cat head and an ankh (the Egyptian symbol of life). And in that lake (Isheru), Egyptians offered sacrifices to the goddess. Bastet’s popularity stemmed from her function as the protector of women and children. This turned her from a ferocious lioness into a gentle cat. Cookies are used by our web-host to help us give you the best experience possible on our website. [1] In Greek mythology. During the festival, some of the best sacrifices and offerings in Egypt were made to the goddess Bastet. Owing to wild nature and reckless abandon of the festival, children were not allowed to attend. Bastet took Ptah – the ancient god of architecture and craftsmanship – as her consort. the lioness Bastet), some Egyptians cast a spell on themselves so as to pass off as the “son of Bastet”. Dec 10, 2016 - Explore Suzan Kathleen's board "Bast Goddess", followed by 112 people on Pinterest. Bastet’s origin story and role perhaps came from one of the first feline deities in ancient Egypt – the Mafdet. For a typical ancient Egyptian, a prayer to Bastet might have looked something like this: The story of Bastet started off as an aggressive lioness goddess of the sun. your own Pins on Pinterest Virtually every Wicca symbol relates to the Wicca Goddess or God, in its core meaning. Cat, rising sun, utchat (the "All-Seeing Eye"), pottery jar (perfume holder), parade, float, castanet and rattle, beer, music and dance, Cattail and other reeds, yew, cypress, mint (especially catmint), barley, and hemp, Musk, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh, hemp, catnip, vervain, sandalwood, geranium, and lavender, Cat's eye, sunstone, agate, jasper, lapis lazuli, and pyrite, Black, gold, red, turqouise, clay, and silver. Jun 7, 2017 - “Bast’s themes are animals, magic, overcoming, playfulness, joy and humor. Check out this page to launch your research on god symbols, goddess symbols and their meanings. To force the Egyptians to surrender, Cambyses II of Persia threatened to harm all the animals Egypt, particularly cats. The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and good health. A large number of goddess symbols have survived in statuary and other works of art. Bastet’s importance and popularity were quite pronounced in Lower Egypt. She does not wear a solar disc as Sekhmet and Isis do. With their presence come specific symbols. The other deities are Sekhmet, Hathor, Isis, Mut, and Horus. Learn about her powers, symbols, story, and more! People in Egypt used the sistrum during celebrations, and also during rituals of worship for the goddess Bastet. Wiccan Witchcraft Bast Goddess Goddess Symbols Egyptian Mythology Third Eye Ancient Egypt Deities Mother Earth. Other goddess symbols were derived from the rituals used in the ancient rites of worship of these goddesses. While excavating the area, archaeologist found more than 300,000 mummified cats. She was generally revered as the daughter of Ra the creator god and king of the Egyptian Gods. This Amulet features Bast Goddess of Cats with two ankh symbols, the eye of Horus and a little emerald at the bottom. See more ideas about bastet, bastet goddess, egyptian cats. Her portrayal as a lioness started around the third millennium BCE. ​Hecate, Greek goddess of the Crossroads (known as "the Distant One") is often represented by symbols associated with her personality traits and her role as Queen of the Night. These were also a part of the worship ritual for each deity. The goddess was sometimes depicted holding a ceremonial sistrum in one hand and an aegis in the other—the aegis usually resembling a collar or gorget, embellished with a lioness head. 4. The cat goddess Bast (also known as Bastet) eventually replaced the cult of Mafdet, and Bast’s image softened over time and she became the deity representing protection, fertility, and motherhood. Apr 1, 2014 - This Pin was discovered by Donna Thompson. Therefore, it’s likely that her name can be interpreted into something related to ointment and protection. Your email address will not be published. Sometimes Bast is seen as a sister to Sekhmet, but this is also incorrect. Thus, aside the cat, the moon was considered a very import symbol of Bastet. BAST: EGYPTIAN GODDESS OF PROTECTION AND PLEASURE. Being a cat in nature, Bast teaches us to land on our feet in any situation, using a positive, playful attitude as our best ally. Discover (and save!) Saved by Jennifer Gibson. Bast is the Egyptian cat-faced Goddess of sorcery, beneficence, joy, dance and fertility. Bastet was also a goddess of pregnancy and childbirth, possibly because of the fertility of the domestic cat. And since Wiccans primarily honour the Goddess, Her symbols are often used by Wiccans. Discover (and save!) Goddess symbols are individualized for each goddess. Images of Bastet were often created from alabaster. Often times, she is holding a sistrum in her right hand and an … It is believed that her rage and anger was cooled down by the water in the lake. In Egyptian mythology, Bastet (Bast) is the goddess of protection, cats, pregnancy, fertility, music, warfare and ointments. The article below delves right into the myths surrounding the birth story, powers, worship, and symbols of Bastet, the cat-headed goddess of protection. In the months of April and May, Ancient Egyptians took to celebrating a festival in honor of Bastet. She was a collection of paradoxes, associated with both motherhood and chastity, with love and war, with life and destruction. Bastet is associated with femininity and cats. Bast Goddess. Some royals even allowed cats to eat from the same bowl as them. In this role, Bastet was typically associated with the Ra’s divine cat called Mau. In many depictions, the goddess is shown as slender woman in a beautiful dress with a cat head. Another point worth mentioning is that Bastet has sometimes been called Bast ba’Aset . The Greeks associated her closely with their goddess Artemis and believed that, as Artemis had a twin brother (Apollo) so should Ba… Mar 18, 2019 - Explore Amanda Stacey's board "Bastet Goddess" on Pinterest. Since Bast was the goddess of all things that give pleasure, it's only natural that the annual festival honoring the goddess was a riotous affair. Music was played and women let down their hair while at the same time raising their skirts up. Her name is also spelled Bast, Baast, Ubasti and Baset. Bast teaches us fearlessness, stillness and the meditative power of the cat! ​Many of the goddess symbols come from the legends surrounding a specific goddess and were "characters" in her story. 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