Bastet was an ancient Egyptian cat goddess that had many nicknames – Goddess of the Rising Sun and the the Sacred & All Seeing Eye among them. She was a protector of Lower Egypt.
Her domain was over many things including the “home, domesticity, women’s secrets, domestic cats, fertility, and childbirth.” She was also one of several gods connected to the ey of being an “Eye of Ra.”
While not her primary duty, she served as a guide in the underworld (called Duat). This was also where she rode on a ship through the night to protect her father from Apep, a snake god of chaos. This journey was necessary to carry the sun safely to rise the next day.
Where was Bastet celebrated?
An annual festival was held in Bastet’s name in the city of Bubastis with music, dancing, and sacrifices. In my novel I borrow that city name and use it to refer to her temple. In reality, she had temples at Alexandria and Sakkara, but I place it in my fictionalized area above the real city of Heliopolis.
Who is bastet’s family?
It is important to note that in the world of ancient myths, family trees can get a little fuzzy. But I have yet to see a source that lists anyone other than Ra as Bastet’s father. Sekhmet is either listed as her sister or the two are combined together as one goddess – representing different sides of the cat goddess’ nature (or some stories have Sekhmet eventually evolve into Bastet!). Like I said, it’s a bit complicated.
In some myths, Ptah as noted as her partner or “consort”, which is the version I am loyal to. She has a son with him, Maahes (but that’s a spoiler!) There are a variety of other gods attributed to her as siblings as well, but my novel features Sekhmet as described above and Shu, a male god of light and air.
Bastet is the main character in my novel To Keep The Sun Rising in which I reimagine and expand on the myth of her slaying Apep.
Sources: egyptianmuseum.org, arce.org, wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastet
Miranda Lenwest 