The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel prophesied around 500 B.C., that the once proud pharaonic city Bubastis [the name comes from Pi-Beseth, meaning the domain of the cat goddess] would fall into ruins [Ezekiel 30:17,18]. Coptic tradition says that the temple collapsed when the Holy Family entered, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah’s “Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence” [Isaiah 19:1].
We will also see in Tell Basta a 1st century well that some believe to be created by Jesus Christ. Some pilgrims started drinking polluted water resulting in the Egyptian Organization for Antiquities placing a fence around the well.
 © copyright A 1st century well that according to Dr. Mahmoud Omar, was created by the Holy Family. This is, however, disputed by the Egyptian Antiquities Organization. (photo taken in March 2002) |
 © copyright A 1st century well that according to Dr. Mahmoud Omar, was created by the Holy Family. This is, however, disputed by the Egyptian Antiquities Organization. This photo was taken in December 2002 after making a fence around the well in order to prevent pilgrims from drinking polluted water. |
 © copyright American author Paul Perry sitting on the edge of the well that according to tradition was created by Jesus Christ inside a Pharaonic temple which collapsed and shattered upon His stepping into it, fulfilling the prophecy: “Behold, the LORD rideth on a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence.” [Isaiah 19:1] |
 © copyright Pharaonic inscriptions. |
 © copyright A traditional waterwheel for irrigating the land in the area near Tell Basta. |
 © copyright Stones from a Pharaonic temple with Pharaonic inscriptions. The prophet Ezekiel prophesized that the yoke of Pharaonic Egypt would be broken. Bubastis (Pibeseth KJB) or Tell Basta, the capital of Egypt in the 22nd dynasty (945-720 B.C.), is explicitly mentioned [Ezekiel 30:17,18]. |
 © copyright A huge stone with the feet of a statue taken from another temple in the Delta, re-used to create a wall in the temple of Tell Basta. |
 © copyright Stones from a Pharaonic temple at Tell Basta. |
 © copyright Author Paul Perry examining a Pharaonic inscription. |
 © copyright David Sellers A painting of the Last Supper at the Church of At Tel Basta. |
 © copyright David Sellers The interior of the Church of St. Antonius at Tel Basta. A priest is receiving foreign visitors. |