Bastet (or ‘Bast’) was one of the most popular goddesses in Egyptian mythology, and generally thought of more as a cat goddess. She even personified the playfulness, grace, affection, and cunning of a cat, as well as the fierce power of a lioness. To Bast cats were sacred, and to harm one was considered to be a personal crime against her and be very unlucky. Her priests kept sacred cats in her temple, which were considered to be incarnations of the goddess. When they died they were mummified so they could be presented to the goddess as an offering and her name being loosely translated to as “Devouring Lady.”
The first-ever vinyl edition of Philip Glass's award-winning soundtrack to The Hours is out now! You can get here.
"Was there ever a more perfect film for Glass’s lyrical manner?” asked Gramophone. “Such a feeling of fragile beauty is a rare achievement.”
The release coincides with the 20th anniversary of the film and album and Glass’ 85th birthday concert season. Originally released in December 2002, Glass’s score to the Academy Award–winning film was itself nominated for an Academy Award, as well as a Golden Globe and a Grammy, and went on to win a BAFTA and a Classical BRIT. Based on Michael Cunningham’s 1999 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, the film was directed by Stephen Daldry with a screenplay by David Hare and stars Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman.