Overview
The ruined Delta city sacred to Bastet, the cat goddess, with a temple precinct and an ancient cat cemetery.
Attraction
Bubastis (Tell Basta)
The cult centre of the cat goddess Bastet, and one of the Delta's great festival cities.
Photo: Einsamer Schütze / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
Why Visit Bubastis (Tell Basta)
A major ancient city organised around an animal cult, complete with the burials and bronze votive figures that went with it - a very different story from the temples of Upper Egypt.
History of Bubastis (Tell Basta)
Bubastis was occupied from the Old Kingdom onward and became a royal seat under the 22nd Dynasty. Herodotus visited in the 5th century BC and recorded a festival that drew enormous river-borne crowds. The temple was later quarried for stone, leaving the field of broken granite seen today.
Best Time to Visit Bubastis (Tell Basta)
October to April, ideally in the morning.
How to Get to Bubastis (Tell Basta)
On the edge of Zagazig in the eastern Delta, about two hours by road from Cairo. Commonly combined with Tanis in one private day.
Nearby Attractions
Tours That Include Bubastis (Tell Basta)
Plan Your Visit to Bubastis (Tell Basta)
Want to include Bubastis (Tell Basta) in your Egypt itinerary? Browse our tours or ask for a custom plan.
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