Bast means “she of the ointment jar” or “devouring lady” (1). She is a lioness goddess of protection, the sun, the home and an Eye of Ra. She was the fierce lioness in some myths of the Distant Goddess. Later in the Greco-Roman Period, Bast became depicted as a domestic cat.
She was honored with her consort Ra-Atum (or Atum-Ra) and her sons Heru-Hekenu (Horus of Praises) and Ma’ahes (Mihos) at her Temple of Per-Bast (Bubastis). In Memphis, her consort was Ptah and her son was Nefertem. As the syncretic Goddess Bast-Mut, her consort was Amun-Ra and her son was Khonsu.
Bast’s syncretic forms are Bast-Mut and Sekhmet-Bast.
To learn more about Bast go to these websites Per Bast and the wikipedia entry here Bast Wiki Entry.
There is also a book about Bast called Bast, Cat Goddess of Ancient Egypt by Linda Illes. Just a note, the author does not cite sources.
And here is a great song to Bast by Catfolk: Bast Within and ShefytBast’s songs to Bast here: Songs to the Netjeru.
Offerings to Bast-Mut
Liquid Offerings
Water
Beer
Red Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon; Pomegranate-Wine)
Milk
Mead
Tea
Food Offerings
Beef
Chicken
Duck
Red Meat
Pastries
Chocolate
Vegetables
Fruit
Bread
Non-Food Offerings
Scents: Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Vanilla
Light: Red or gold candles
Colors: Red, White or Purple (especially as Bast-Mut); Green and Gold as well.
Flowers: Red Roses, flowers in general
Taboos
None.
Sources
1) Siuda, Tamara. The Ancient Egyptian Prayerbook. Stargazer Design, 2009. page 62.
Pinch, Geraldine. Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses and Traditions of Ancient Egypt. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
Joyce Tyldesley. The Penguin Book of Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt. (Penguin 2011), 196-197.
Golden of the Valley, Lapis of the River
This is Shefyt’s blog which is dedicated to Bast.
Bast Wiki Entry
The Bast entry at the Wepwawet-Wiki.
Fiercely Bright One 