bast

Bast is a term with two primary meanings in different domains. In botany and textile history, bast refers to the long, strong fibers derived from the phloem, or inner bark, of dicot plants. Common bast fibers include flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, ramie, and nettle. These fibers are extracted from the plant’s inner bark through processes such as retting, scutching, and hackling. Traditionally, bast fibers have been used to make rope, twine, and coarse fabrics; in modern times they are also used in natural-fiber composites and specialty textiles.

In Egyptian mythology, Bast (often Bastet in later transliterations) is the goddess associated with home, fertility, and protection. She is commonly depicted as a cat or a lioness, reflecting her role as a protective deity and guardian of the household. Bast/Bastet was worshiped in domestic cults and at temples, notably the temple city of Bubastis. Her associations include music, dance, and childbirth, and over time her cult absorbed aspects from or merged with the worship of Sekhmet.

The two senses—plant-derived fibers and the Egyptian goddess—are unrelated etymologically but share the same spelling in English. Bast fibers continue to be of interest for sustainable textiles and materials science, while Bastet remains a prominent figure in ancient Egyptian religion and iconography.