Bast

[Katss]

I'm looking for some information on Bast (also known to have a few name variations) for a paper I am writing (preferably starting online).. what I have found on the net seems to be very little.. and what there is.. alot is very repetitive with very little details on much of anything.. there also seems to be alot of false assumptions of who or what she was/is flying around these sites.. so I am really looking for the most reliable information I can find.

I would appreciate any insight you have into the pest way to research this for good viable information :D

(Hope this isn't in the wrong place... now that I look I think it is.. my bad :( )

[Agaliha]

Start with these!
per-Bast.org (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkjiJh31Gf8gA16dXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5cXUxaGl0BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNwRjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANNQVAwMTZfMTI1B GwDV1Mx/SIG=11nsvn2hm/EXP=1182718217/**http%3a//www.per-bast.org/bast/essay/) -----written by someone in the Kemetic Orthodoxy, even goes into the misinformation about her
Egypt: Bast the Cat Goddess (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkjiJh31Gf8gA2qdXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5dDVwMWJ1BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDOARjb2xvA3cEdnRpZANNQVAwMTZfMTI1B GwDV1Mx/SIG=1225taj7k/EXP=1182718217/**http%3a//www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/bast2.htm) ------From the offical TourEgypt site.
Bast, Perfume Protector, Cat Goddess (http://touregypt.net/godsofegypt/bast2.htm) (same as above)
Kemet.org : Bast (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkmP7h31G59IABxhXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTFhbTZjODJlBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTIEY29sbwN3BHZ0aWQDTUFQMDE2XzEyN QRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=11rds3oic/EXP=1182718331/**http%3a//www.kemet.org/glossary/bast.html) -----From House Of Netjer
Bast (http://www.egyptianmyths.net/bastet.htm)

Also this book: The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt Richard H. Wilkinson (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Gods-Goddesses-Ancient-Egypt/dp/0500051208)

Then there's TONS of sites online that you could look though, like Aset, Sekhmet and Hethert there are tons of sites about Bast. Some with personal gnosis and other stuff. Just searching Yahoo or Google for "Bast goddess" (or the incorrect "Bastet" ) and browsing will turn up tons of sites. Not all of them are wrong, they just might not be what you'd want to base a report off of. Often times they don't list sources and stuff like that. For researching for personal spiritual reasons those sites can be helpful.

Good luck with your report! :)

[Dustypuppy]

From what Ive picked up on, Bast was the patron goddess of the city of Bubastis, which was the capital of one of the provinces of Lower Egypt. Originally depicted as a lioness goddess, displaying the fertilizing heat of the sun, she later became associated with the rather more meek domestic cat and was depicted as a cat headed woman. Similar to Hathor, pleasurable pursuits came under her domain, particularly music and dance, she also protected humans against contagious disease and malevolent beings. Herodatus stated that her temple was one of the most admired in all Egypt and it hosted many a joyful festival attracting thousands of adherents from all over the country. It was customary to bury the mummified bodies of cats within the shadow of her sacred places as suring their lifetimes they had been venerated as her physical manifestations....thats all i got....hope it helps in some small way good luck!x