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What is Pi-beseth?
        PI-BE'SETH
        , or PIB'ESETH, a city of Lower Egypt, named from the goddess Bubastis. The hieroglyphic name is "Pe-Bast," "the house of Bast," the Egyptian Artemis, the goddess of fire, the calf-headed goddess, also shown with a lion's head. The name appears in Scripture only as one of the cities of Egypt which Ezekiel foretold would be destroyed. Eze 30:17. From this it would seem to have been a city of great importance. The name appears occasionally in Egyptian annals. An earthquake is mentioned on Manetho's list which took place there about b.c. 2470. Herodotus speaks of the temple of the goddess Bubastis, whom he identifies with the Greek Artemis, as the most beautiful he had ever seen. It was built of the finest red granite, in the midst of a sacred enclosure 600 feet square. Ruins still bearing the name of Fel Besta mark the site of the ancient city, which was situated on the eastern or Pelusiac branch of the Delta, some 20 miles from the Nile and 40 miles north-east of Memphis. Remains of the ancient houses of brick and of a fortress are found. The temple is entirely ruined, but the names of several of the sovereigns have been traced out, including those of Rameses II. and Shishak. The city was taken by the Persians, b.c. 352, and the walls were overthrown. It continued to exist, however, as a considerable city under the Roman empire.


Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'pi-beseth' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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