Bubastite

Tell-Basta

Ⲡⲟⲩⲃⲁⲥϯ
View of Bubastis
Shown within Egypt
Alternate name	Bubastis Per-Bast
Location	Tell-Basta, Sharqia Governorate, Egypt
Region	Lower Egypt
Coordinates	30°34′22″N 31°30′36″E / 30.57278°N 31.51000°E / 30.57278; 31.51000Coordinates: 30°34′22″N 31°30′36″E / 30.57278°N 31.51000°E / 30.57278; 31.51000
Type	Settlement
Site notes
Condition	In ruins

Bubastis (Bohairic Coptic: Ⲡⲟⲩⲃⲁⲥϯ Poubasti; Greek: Βούβαστις Boubastis or Βούβαστος Boubastos), also known in Arabic as Tell-Basta or in Egyptian as Per-Bast, was an Ancient Egyptian city. Bubastis is often identified with the biblical Pi-Beseth (Hebrew פי-בסת py-bst, Ezekiel 30:17). It was the capital of its own nome, located along the River Nile in the Delta region of Lower Egypt, and notable as a center of worship for the feline goddess Bast, and therefore the principal depository in Egypt of mummies of cats.

Its ruins are located in the suburbs of the modern city of Zagazig.

The name of Bubastis in Egyptian is Pr-Bȝśt.t, typically transcribed Per-Bast. PR means "house" and the second word is the name of the goddess Bast or Bastet. The phrase means "House of Bast". In Bohairic Coptic, the name is rendered Ⲡⲟⲩⲃⲁⲥϯ, Ⲡⲟⲩⲁⲥϯ or Ⲃⲟⲩⲁⲥϯ.

Bubastis served as the capital of the nome of Am-Khent, the Bubastite nome, the 18th nome of Lower Egypt. Bubastis was situated southwest of Tanis, upon the eastern side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. The nome and city of Bubastis were allotted to the Calasirian division of the Egyptian war-caste.