Task 2- Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Bast

Bast is the ancient Egyptian cat goddess. In ancient Egypt cats were usually associated with female goddesses. People were forbidden on pain of death to harm a cat. Following the death of a cat, the family would shave off their eyebrows as a mark of mourning. The cat would be mummified with a grand funeral. During the funeral the cat would be placed in a tomb with its favorite toys and saucers of food. This ceremony was a rule in ancient Egypt.

Bast was also known as Bastet and Pasht. She became an important national deity in 950 B.C.E. In ancient Egyptian art Bast was portrayed as a woman with the head of a cat. She holds a sistrum for her music in her right hand and a shield, with the head of a cat or lioness at the top, in her left hand. She was worshipped at Bubastis in the eastern delta. She was also known as the manifestation of the solar eye. Many referred to her as "the eye of Ra who protects her father Ra." Bast loved music and dance. Bast was seen as the personification of the beneficial, fertilizing power of the sun. She protected pregnant women and men from disease and against evil spirits.

Bast's festival was one of the most popular in all of Egypt. She was celebrated with abundant sacrifices and festivities. During her festival dead cats were carefully mummified and buried. More than 700,000 people attended her festival. Men and women came by barge, dancing, singing, clapping and playing castanets, which were musical instruments. More wine was consumed at Bast's celebration than at any other time of the year.