Bastet

Bastet (also spelled Bast, Bastit, or Ubastet) was an ancient Egyptian goddess often depicted as a lioness or a cat. She was revered as a protector goddess, particularly of Lower Egypt, and was associated with fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and the home. Her name is thought to derive from the word bas, meaning "to protect" or "to defend." In Hebrew, she is sometimes referred to as בַּסְטֶט (transliterated as Bastet). In other languages, she is known as Bastet in French, Bastet in Spanish, and Bastet in German. Bastet was often depicted with the head of a lioness or a domestic cat, reflecting her dual nature as both a nurturing and fierce deity. Her cult center was located in the city of Bubastis, where she was worshipped as a benevolent goddess who protected the pharaoh and the people from evil forces. Over time, her worship spread throughout Egypt, and she became one of the most popular deities in the Egyptian pantheon.