Bastet: How a goddess ensured she would never be forgotten

 Bastet:The Goddess that made sure she would never be forgotten 

Bastet in the ancient Egyptian pantheon is a fascinating story. When the ancient Egyptians were losing their faith and interest in the old gods and goddesses, they all feared that in time they would be forgotten; lost in the Egyptian sands of time. Sekhmet ( check out our article on her) did not want to be forgotten and responded to the other deities dismissive attitude towards her and mortals by evolving into a figure that would defy time and her image as a cat is very much an integral part of world culture.  Cats are everywhere and loved by millions. How’s that for immortality!!?

Bastet (originally Bast), one of ancient Egypt’s most beloved deities, was worshipped from at least the Second Dynasty (c. 2890–2686 BCE) until the Greco-Roman period. Her cult centered on Bubastis (Per-Bast) in the Nile Delta, which flourished especially during the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070–664 BCE) and Late Period.

Early depictions showed her as a fierce lioness or lioness-headed woman, embodying solar power as an “Eye of Ra.” She defended the sun god against chaos (notably the serpent Apep) and protected the pharaoh, sharing traits with warrior goddesses like Sekhmet.

From the New Kingdom onward, and particularly after c. 1000 BCE, Bastet’s image softened. She became a domestic cat or cat-headed woman, symbolizing nurturing qualities. She presided over home protection, fertility, childbirth, motherhood, joy, music, dance, and pleasure—often shown holding a sistrum and aegis, with kittens at her feet.

This transformation reflected cultural shifts: Sekhmet retained the destructive aspect, while Bastet embodied gentle guardianship. Domestic cats, vital for pest control, were sacred to her; harming one was a serious crime, and many were mummified as votive offerings. Vast cat cemeteries near Bubastis attest to her popularity.

Her family ties placed her as daughter of Ra, sister of Sekhmet, wife of Ptah, and mother of lion-god Mihos

Herodotus (5th century BCE) described Bubastis’s grand temple and its joyous annual festival, drawing massive crowds for music, dancing, feasting, and revelry—celebrating Bastet’s domains of fertility and delight.

Bastet’s enduring appeal highlights ancient Egyptians’ reverence for cats as symbols of subtle strength, domestic harmony, and protective grace. Her legacy bridges fierce solar warrior and affectionate household guardian, leaving a lasting icon of femininity and feline mystique in Egyptian religious history.

Over centuries, Bastet’s iconography and character gradually softened, shifting from lioness to domestic cat or cat-headed woman. This transformation reflected cultural and practical changes:

  In the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055–1650 BCE), subtle shifts began as cats (descended from African wildcats) gained domestic importance for controlling vermin and protecting grain stores.

By the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BCE), depictions increasingly favored the gentler feline form, though lioness traits persisted in some contexts.

The major change solidified during the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070–664 BCE), particularly under the 22nd Dynasty (c. 945–715 BCE), when Bubastis rose as a political and religious center. Bastet became predominantly a cat goddess, symbolizing nurturing protection, fertility, motherhood, joy, music, dance, and home harmony.

This differentiation from Sekhmet was key: as Sekhmet retained the fierce, destructive solar-eye role, Bastet embodied the benevolent counterpart—gentle guardianship, pleasure, and domestic well-being. The addition of the feminine suffix “-et” (making “Bastet”) in later texts emphasised her femininity and milder nature.

The rise of domestic cats paralleled this shift; cats became sacred embodiments of Bastet, mummified in vast numbers as votive offerings. By the Late Period (c. 664–332 BCE) and Ptolemaic era, she was almost exclusively shown as a cat-headed woman holding a sistrum (for joy and music) and an aegis, often with kittens, highlighting her protective yet affectionate role.

Bastet’s evolution mirrored ancient Egyptian society’s growing appreciation for subtle strength, family life, and the everyday utility of cats, transforming a warrior lioness into one of the most beloved symbols of grace, femininity, and gentle protection in their pantheon.

The festival of Bastet (also known as the Festival of Bubastis) was one of ancient Egypt’s most joyous and popular celebrations, held annually at her cult center in Bubastis (modern Tell Basta) in the Nile Delta. It honored the cat goddess Bastet, embodying themes of joy, fertility, music, protection, and uninhibited revelry—contrasting with more somber Egyptian rites.

The journey to the festival was reportedly grand . Boats carried large groups singing, clapping, playing flutes and rattles (sistrums), and dancing. As boats passed towns, women (often central to the rituals) shouted playful insults or “abuse” at locals, danced, and sometimes stood to expose themselves—symbolising fertility, freedom from social norms, and honoring the goddess’s domains of pleasure and women’s liberation during the event. This behavior continued along the riverbanks.

Upon reaching Bubastis, the celebration peaked with grand sacrifices, feasting, and heavy wine consumption—more than the rest of the year combined. Music, dancing, and merriment filled the air, with the temple (praised by Herodotus as visually stunning, island-like, surrounded by tree-shaded canals from the Nile) as the focal point.

The festival likely tied to seasonal events: originally linked to the New Year and Nile inundation (around the heliacal rising of Sirius, shifting over centuries from June–August in earlier periods), it aligned with renewal, fertility, and harvest themes. Some sources note it as the “Great Bastet Festival,” possibly celebrated once or twice yearly, with connections to Hathor-like “Beautiful Festival of Drunkenness” rituals emphasizing intoxication to please goddesses. This exuberant event reflected Bastet’s evolution into a goddess of domestic harmony and delight, drawing Egyptians for communal joy, divine favor, and escape from daily constraints. It remains a vivid testament to her enduring popularity.

So, next time you see a cat; especially a black cat, remember that they have not forgotten that they were once worshipped and you are in the presence of an eternal goddess.