Tell Basta is the site of an ancient city about 80 km to the northeast of Cairo in the eastern Nile Delta. The ancient mound sets just to the southeastern side of modern Zagazig It was an important city from about the 4th Dynasty until the end of the Roman Period (2613 BC through 395 AD), and was the capital of the 18th Lower Egyptian nome during the Late Period. However, we also know that even as early as the 2nd Dynasty, a number of kings built up close ties with the city and the Temple of Bastet, Besides the important Temple of Bastet, the city also occupied key ground along the routs from Memphis to the Sinai (Wadi Tumilat) and to Asia.

The city apparently reached its peak in importance during the 22nd Dynasty, when Egypt was ruled by natives of the city such as Osorkon I (924-889 BC). However, the capital was probably never moved from Tanis at that time, though some sources disagree, believing that Tell Basta was in fact the capital of Egypt during the 22nd and 23rd Dynasties. The city was once apparently destroyed by the Persians, but appears to have overcome the disaster.