Origin Of The Name Of Bastet And Elements Typical Of This goddess

Her name could be translated as "Devouring Lady". However, the phonetic elements "bas" are written with an oil jar (the "t" is the feminine ending) which is not used when writing the word "devour".

The oil jar gives an association with perfume which is strengthened by the fact that she was thought to be the mother of Nefertum(who was a god of perfume). Thus her name implies that she is sweet and precious, but that under the surface lay the heart of a predator.

Bast was depicted as a cat, or as a woman with the head of a cat, a sand cat or a lion. She is often shown holding the ankh (representing the breath of life) or the papyrus wand (representing Lower Egypt). She occasionally bears a was-scepter (signifying strength) and is often accompanied by a litter of kittens.

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