Bast
From Wepwawet Wiki
Name
Bast (bahst)
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Devouring Lady
Names - Alternate
Bastet, Ubasti
Appearance
Lioness, cat, cat-headed or lioness-headed woman.
Her original appearance as a lioness eventually gave way to depictions as a desert wildcat, and then a domestic from 1000 B.C.E., though her depictions as a lioness or desert wildcat continued with this change.[1] Her equation with Sekhmet, who also appears as a lioness, has little historical evidence.
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Parents
Bast is called a daughter of Ra and is one of His Eyes.
Consorts
Sometimes considered a wife of Ptah (a role sometimes given to Sekhmet).
Children
Maahes is called her son in the city of Bubastis.
Epithets
- Devouring Lady [2]
- Lady of the East
- The Light Bearer
- Lady of Truth
- Goddess of the Birth Chamber
- Tearer
- Mistress of Bubastis
- Lady of the Life of the Two Lands
- She Who protects the Two Lands and the Akhu
- Invisible Paw [3]
- Northern Hethert
- Goddess of Family and Home
- Lady of Perfumes
- The Great
- Giving all life
- Who creates the Transformation in the Field
- The One who is over the secrets of Atum
- Lady of the shrine
- Pre-eminent in the Field-of-the-God
- Lady of heaven
- Mistress of all the gods
- Mistress of the Two Lands
- Mistress of Pr-ns(r)t
- W't (the unique) who has no peer
- Mehnet who is over..[text lost]..
- The Goddess Wnet
- Giver of Valor
- The Goddess Wsert
- The Daughter of Re
- Bast, the Nurse
- Eye of Ra
- The Fiery One
Roles
Worship Centers
Per-Bast (Gr. Bubastis ), also known as Tell Basta. Per-Bast is in Lower Kemet, to the southeast of the modern city of Zagazig.
Festivals
- IV Peret 4 (approximately early March) - Feast of Chewing Onions for Bast
- III Shomu 13 (approximately mid-June) - Feast of Bast of Mennefer
- II Akhet 10 (Approximately mid-September) - Saq-Bast Ankh-tawy (Life-of-Two-Lands, name of the necropolis/temple complex at Mennefer [Memphis])
- I Peret 20 & 21 (approximately December 24-25) - Feast of Bast & Bast Guards the Two Lands
Art
Modern
Offerings
Food/Drink
- naan bread
- Caramel
- Chocolate
- chocolate liqueur
- Cinnamon
- Edible flowers
- Ice cream
- Limes
- mead
- Red meat
- Roast or barbecued meat
- Milk
- Peppermint
- sake
- sushi
- tea
- vanilla
- Cool water
- plum wine
Items
- Mirrors
- Bells/Chimes
- Knives and Swords
- Books
- Stationery
- Stained-glass
- Mechanical things such as grandfather clocks
- Motorcycles
- Jewelry
- Perfumes
- Bottles
- Feather
- Fountains
- Seashells
Stones
Scents
Colours
- Green
- gold
- black
- jewel tones
Flowers
- roses
- lotus
- lily
- daisies
- edible flowers
- sunflowers
Prayer Associations
Pray to Bast for protection for vulnerable women and children, and for happiness in the home.
Bast is mentioned in the 42 Negative Confessions twice; once directly in Purification 13:
"Hail Bast, coming forth from the shrine, I do not eat my heart. [4]"
She is mentioned along with several other Names bearing the title Eye of Ra in Purification 8:
"Hail Fiery One, coming forth backwards, I do not speak lies. [5]"
Common Misconceptions
Bast is not a goddess of marijuana or other drugs. Her association with the moon is of Greek origin. She is not fluffy or soft, but can have a cruel, malicious streak. She is not the benevolent form of Sekhmet.
