Bast was an ancient Egyptian goddess. She was represented as a woman with the head of a lion or cat, and the cat was sacred to her. She is depicted carrying a sistrum in her right hand, a breastplate in her left hand and a small bag over her left arm. The cult of Bast was popular around Bubastis and later at Memphis. The Romans also took the cult back to Rome, Ostia, Nemi and Pompeii. Research Bast
The sistrum is a musical instrument consisting of a thin metal frame, through which pass a number of metal rods, and furnished with a handle by which it is shaken and made to rattle. It was peculiarly Egyptian, and used especially in the worship of Isis. It is still used in Nubia. Research Sistrum
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Abbreviations
Research Bast
