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Bubastis ruins
Bastet head
Bastet head
Location Lower Egypt - southwest of Tanis
Pelusiac branch of the Delta
Nome18th nome of Lower Egypt Am-Khent - the 18th Nome of Lower Egypt
Type of SettlementReligious center
Local deity- Bastet
- The festival of Bubastis honoring the local goddess was the most gorgeous in the Egyptian calendar as described by Herodotus
Necropolis- There are many cemetery sites north of Bubastis, important Noble burials dating to the New kingdom include the tomb of Iuti, a Dynasty 19th vizier and the tomb of Viceroy Hori, dating from the 20th Dynasty.
- Extensive animal cemeteries began to appear during Third Intermediate Period, particularly for the burial of millions of mummified cats which were associated with the local cult.
These cat cemeteries consists of a series of vaulted mud brick tombs about 200m north of the temple ruins.
Ancient namePer- Bastet - "The domain of Bastet "
Contemporary nameTell Basta
Historical Development- Old kingdom - the earliest remains of blocks bearing the names of 4th Dynasty Khufu and Khafre, who built cult temples in this location
- Third Intermediate Period - It became a royal residence after Shoshenq I, the first ruler of the 22nd Dynasty, became Pharaoh
During the 23rd Dynasty the city reached its' peek, and was one of the most important places in the Delta
- Late Period - the city was destroyed during the Persian conquest of Cambyses 2 in 525 BC (27th Dynasty).
- Ptolemaic Period - the identification of Bastet with Artemis (the Greek goddess) attracted to her shrine both native Egyptians and Greeks, and the city regained religious importance
Monuments- The ruins of the red granite Temple of Bastet, the site is so ruined that it was impossible to reconstruct any more then the basic layout, an entrance hall and a festival hall were constructed by Osorkon 2 of the 22nd Dynasty, while a sanctuary was built by Nectanebo 2 of the 30th Dynasty.
- Ka-temples of the 5th Dynasty Pharaohs Teti 1 and Pepi 1 - lies to the west of the main Temple, but all that remains are two rows of pillars.
- Two jubilee chapels built by Amenemhet 3 and Amenhotep 3
- To the north of the main Temple stood a smaller rectangular sanctuary of the lion god Mihos, the son of Bastet

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Last updated 04 December 2012 , By Ayman Fadl - Copyright © 2001-2012