Tel Basta: The Historic Capital and Sacred City of the Goddess Bastet
Sharqiya Governorate enjoys the spread of political places and areas and Islamic and historical monuments in various centers and cities in the governorate, and one of the most famous of these places is the archaeological area of Tel Basta in Zagazig. Egypt Travel Packages often include visits to this unique historical site.
Tel Basta is an archaeological area in Zagazig with historical importance. It was called “Bubastis”, which is the graceful cat, the goddess Bastet, the goddess of love and fertility. Egypt Shore Excursions can be a great way to explore this region’s rich history.
Bubastis was the capital of the country around 945 BC during the reign of King Shesheng I, the founder of the 22nd Dynasty, and then the city was destroyed by the Persians around 350 BC. It was the capital of the 18th region in the ancient Egyptian state, then became the capital of all regions during the 22nd Dynasty, and was known as “Per-Bastet” after “Bastet”, the god of fun, happiness and comfort, then the word was transformed into “Tel Basta”.
Tel Basta was a crossing point and temporary residence for the Virgin Mary and her son, Jesus Christ, when they came to Egypt. Egypt Day Tours to this fascinating site offer an enriching journey through both its religious and historical significance.
Among the most important monuments in the Tel Basta area are the great temple of the god Bastet and the ruins of the temple built by King Khufu, followed by King Bibi of the Sixth Dynasty, and other kings of Ancient Egypt and the Middle Kingdom. It includes monuments dating back to the Hyksos who occupied Egypt, as King Ramses II built huge buildings in this city, and there are monuments to King Osirakon II, king of the 22nd Dynasty.
Tell Basta still has a huge cat tomb, which consisted of a series of catacombs dug into the ground, to bury the cat, the symbol of the god Bastet, after mummification, and many cat mummies and bronze statues were found.
