Archaeological site · Egypt
Tell Basta (Bubastis)
تل بسطة
Ruins of Per-Bastet, cult centre of the cat goddess Bastet and a 22nd-Dynasty capital, in Sharqia in the eastern Delta.
Where it is
30.5720, 31.5120
Why go
Tell Basta marks ancient Per-Bastet, the eastern-Delta city of the lioness and cat goddess Bastet, a provincial capital in the New Kingdom and the seat of the 22nd Dynasty. Visitors see the granite remains of the Bastet temple enlarged by Osorkon I and II, a nine-metre statue of Queen Meritamun, pillars from a temple of Pepi I, the large palace attributed to Amenemhat III, a Roman well linked by tradition to the Holy Family, and an open-air display of statues and inscribed blocks. The site has a long history of excavation, and the Meritamun colossus was found as recently as 2001.
Near Tell Basta (Bubastis)
Monument
Obelisk of Senusret I, Matariya
The Middle Kingdom granite obelisk still standing at Matariya, a standing trace of ancient Heliopolis (Iunu), the sun god's city.
53 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Historic site
Virgin Mary's Tree, Matariya
A Matariya pilgrimage site honouring the tree where, by tradition, the Holy Family rested during their flight into Egypt.
54 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Historic site
Baron Empain Palace
A distinctive early-twentieth-century palace in Heliopolis, designed for Belgian entrepreneur Baron Empain.
57 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Mosque
Mosque of al-Zahir Baybars
A 1260s congregational mosque in Cairo’s al-Zahir district, among the oldest Mamluk mosques, restored in a project completed in 2022.
61 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ