Egyptian Goddess Bastet

Bastet-Speech

Good Morning/Afternoon My presentation will introduce the Egyptian Goddess Bastet. My presentation will cover information concerning the appearance, role,rituals and the High Temple of Bastet.

Bastet was one of the most recognised and longest worshipped Egyptian Goddesses. She was originally known as 'Bast' in Lower Egypt and the Nile Delta region.

Originally, Bastet was depicted as a lioness or a woman with the head of a lioness. During the Middle Kingdom [2055 -1650 B.C], Bastet started to be depicted as a domestic cat. During the New Kingdom[1550-712 B.C], Bastet started to be depicted as a woman with the head of a domestic cat.

Bastet was often seen holding a 'Sistrum', an Egyptian musical instrument used in religious festivals and dancing, as it represented her role as the Goddess of joy and dance. She is

occasionally shown holding an Ankh, the Egyptian symbol of Breath and a Papyrus Wand which represented lower Egypt. Later on, she started to be depicted with kittens representing her role as the goddess of motherhood.

Bastet was the ancient Egyptian Goddess of Cats, protection,Joy, dance, love and motherhood.

Originally, Bastet was the protector God of Lower Egypt and the pharaoh. She was also the Goddess of War in Lower Egypt. Bastet also had an association with perfume. Her role as the War Goddess in Lower Egypt diminished during the Middle Kingdom when she was replaced by her sister, Sekhmet.

During the 22nd dynasty [945-715 B.C], Bastet became the Goddess of cats. Cats were sacred in ancient Egypt as they protected crops, hunted for the Egyptians and protected ancient Egyptians from diseases by eating infected vermin. Through this, Bastet indirectly became the protector God of ancient Egypt.

The things that were present when an offering was made to Bastet in a High temple include : a sculpture of Bastet, lotus flowers and an incense burner. A variety of things were offered to Bastet including spice, water, milk, meat, wine, bread and sometimes statues of sacred cats. Ordinary Egyptian households worshipped statues of Bastet in shrines in their

houses.
During the first millennium B.C nearly every house in ancient Egypt had a cat to honour and worship Bastet. Egyptian women who wanted children usually prayed to Bastet holding an amulet bearing a picture of Bastet with a number of kittens. The priestesses would also dance to Bastet. There was also a popular festival dedicated to Bastet called 'The procession of Bastet' in which 700,000 worshippers celebrated Bastet by dancing, singing and praying.
The High Temple of Bastet was located at the centre of Bubastis,the cult centre of Bastet. The temple was an important and popular location in ancient Egypt. The temple was a man-made island with two canals from the Nile river going around the walls of the temple. The Temple contained a tall statue of Bastet. The temple had many halls in which priests conducted offerings to Bastet. Many cats were owned by the temple to honour Bastet.
Bastet was one of the most important Gods in ancient Egypt.