Myth Retold

There was a time, long before any records were kept, when the sun shone brightly upon the earth everyday. The skies were always a cloudless blue. There was nothing to block the light of the moon at night. Ra proudly strung the sun across the sky everyday, and let it die every night. That was back when I was different. I was kind, forgiving, and worked to help mortals. This was until Tefnut spit into the Nile river, and her spit turned into the monster, Apep. Evil taking the form of a serpent, wreaking chaos where ever he went. He never caused me any harm. Maybe that is why I feel so guilty about what happened. But Apep changed me. I lost my innocence. I suppose I am just indifferent about the event these days.

Every morning, Ra would birth the sun from his head and carefully string it into his chariot. I would help him happily. I always liked the task. Then Ra would start his journey across the sky. Some days I would join him if I was not too busy. One morning after helping him, I returned back to Earth to heal a sick mortal. Suddenly, the sky turned dark and quiet. I went up to Ra and asked him what happened. He told me Apep had come and swallowed the sun,

The next the same thing happened. It happened a third time the day after. On the fourth day, I joined Ra. As soon as we were off, Apep came and blocked our path. Apep lunged for the sun, narrowly missing. Ra battled Apep fervently, but alas, Ra lost and Apep swallowed up the sun. On Earth, crops were dying and the people were getting cold and sick. Months went by with nothing but clouds. Finally, I had had enough. 

The next morning, I followed Apep on the journey as usual. There was a new fire burning inside of me. It was a type of anger I had never felt. I carried a weapon for the first time. Ra seemed to notice, but didn't say anything. A few hours into the day, Apep slithered up onto our chariot. As soon as he moved to strike, I cried "No!" and freed the knife from my belt. Without hesitation, I sliced the sharp blade across Apep's neck. I felt his warm blood spill onto my hands and I was filled with an unimaginable joy. I wiped his blood across my face and through my hair. The blood felt tingly and when I washed it away, I was left with the head of a cat. Ra stood petrified with shock. I kicked Apep's body off the chariot, where he landed in the Nile and dissolved back into spit. 

Upon my return to Earth, I was finally worshiped as I deserved. I was a warrior. I was the new protector of Egypt.

Resolution

After I slit Apep's throat, nothing was the same. My entire persona was changed. My father Ra was ecstatic when he found out what I did. The entire mortal world worshiped me for defeating the evil Apep. He is no longer able to stop the sun from shining. This is why Egypt has such cloudless skies and sunny days.

Climax

After endless daily battles against Apep, my father and I were beyond fed up. I know it wasn't right, but I couldn' take it anymore. The next morning, I waited for Apep to show up as usual. When he did, I pounced on him and slit his throat with a knife. This was an act I will never be proud of. It tarnished my reputation as a caring goddess, and turned me into a fierce, protector goddess. I don't know if I can forever look back at it with regret though. This act gained me my widespread following and reverence across Egypt.

Conflict

Apep is infamous for causing destruction and chaos throughout Egypt. Plague and famine can usually be traced back to him. His antics had pushed my father Ra to the edge. Everyday, his journey was halted by Apep. It had been a never ending battle since the beginning of time. My father and I were understandably frustrated.

Characters

Ra is the sun god. He is responsible for pulling the sun across the sky everyday to provide the world with light and warmth.

Apep is the god of chaos and destruction. He takes the form of a serpent. Every morning, he tries to stop my father Ra from stringing the sun across the sky.

At dawn, right before my father has to pull the sun, Apep will confront him. I help my father battle him in the sky each morning.

Myth Setting

My father Ra, is the sun god. Everyday, he pulls the sun across the sky in his chariot. Every morning, Apep, the god of chaos and destruction tries to stop him. I help my father battle him each morning before the mortals wake. Occasionally, we would loose. Mortals belived this to be the cause for cloudy days or eclipses. There is very little recorded information about this myth because the death of Apep is widely debated. I know the truth though. It was me. I killed Apep.

Cultural References

My influence can be found world-wide in both contemporary and ancient works. For example, the clothing company Bastest Noir is named in my honor. The company has high-end clothing, designed for individuals with lavish, expensive taste. Their logo is a black cat. This name was chosen due to my association with high class product. Another contemporary example of my influence is Radio Bastet which is a podcast of vintage belly dance music based out of Portland, Oregon. The website features a photo of me, and a black cat lives in their store, "protecting the records." My followers have worshiped me with dance in the ancient times, and in present day. A third example of my cultural reference is the iconic Catwoman. Created by DC comics in 1940, the creators have stated the character was based on Midnight, a black temple cat who was my messenger and representation durring my reign.

Bastet Noir fashion from website

Bastet Noir Logo

Radio Bastet advertisment

Merset, the guardian cat in Radio Bastet

Catwoman (DC Comics 2004)

Attributes #2

My responsibilites include protecting the people of lower Egypt from harm and defending the Pharoh and the sun god Ra. I am heavily associated with domestic cats and other felines. My followers predominatly strecthed across lower Egypt, with my main cult thriving in Bubastis of the south-easten delta. My persona is often associated with a lavish lifestyle, consisting of the higher class with lustful, expensive taste. I can be desribed as intense, with a touchy temper. I held my rein as a relativly lone wolf, but I am often assosciated with Sehkmet. Similaries betweent the two of us include our feline heads, and speculation of having the same spouse(Ptah) and child(Nefertem). My symbols include cats, the sun, and the "All Seeing Eye."