Cats were sacred to Bast and were treasured pets in many Egyptian households where they were considered demi-deities. Not only did they protect the crops and slow the spread of disease by killing rodents, but they were also thought to be the physical form of the Goddess. 

In the homes of the wealthy, cats wore gold jewelry and were fed lavishly from their owner's table. People deeply mourned their departed cats and dedicated their mummies to Bast. At the height of Bast's popularity, the penalty for killing a cat, even by accident, was death!

Also known as Bastet, Daughter of Ra, Bast was the Goddess of protection and pleasure and the bringer of good health. 

Ra's daughter has been worshiped as a deity since 3200 BC. Egyptians believed she would ride through the sky daily with her father, the sun god Ra, and watch over and protect him. At night, she would turn into a cat to protect him from his greatest enemy, the serpent Apep.

She was originally a lioness goddess, but as time went on, she became more closely associated with the housecat, which was her totem animal.

Egyptians prayed to Bast to protect households and individuals from disease and evil spirits, guard pregnant women, and protect cats.

Their homes displayed statues of Bast to shield them against thieves. Cat amulets worn on the body invoked her protection. There were also special Bast amulets with kittens that women wore for fertility purposes; the number of kittens on the amulet corresponded with the number of children desired.

Bast was also the patron goddess of firefighters because the Egyptians believed a cat running through a burning building would draw out the flames.

These days, Bast still occasionally appears in popular culture. She has appeared in the Sandman Comic book series and the Dungeons and Dragons game.

We hope you enjoy Bast in wooden jigsaw puzzle form and that she brings you protection for your home. 

The perfect gift for wooden jigsaw puzzlers and cat lovers, this traditional adult wooden jigsaw puzzle can be done time and again. Our wooden jigsaw puzzle artists have included many cat-themed shaped whimsy wooden jigsaw puzzle pieces that match the subject of the image, and we have integrated them in ways that will delight and surprise you as you put the wooden jigsaw puzzle together.