Sekhmet was a fierce and formidable solar goddess, known for her role as an agent of divine retribution.
She was typically depicted as a woman with a lioness's head, crowned with a sun disk, symbolizing her connection to Ra, the sun god.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, it is said that death first entered the world when the Eye of Ra descended as Sekhmet to punish humanity for its disobedience.
Called “She who dances on blood,” Sekhmet unleashed her wrath so violently that she almost eradicated humankind before being cleverly tricked into halting her destruction.
Ironically, since humans were believed to have been created from the tears of Ra's Eye, Sekhmet was slaughtering the very offspring of her divine essence.
Despite her fearsome nature, Sekhmet was also seen as a protective figure, particularly to Egypt's kings.
In Memphis, she was worshipped as the consort of Ptah and the mother of Nefertem.
In the ancient Pyramid Texts, Sekhmet is even referred to as a parent to the king, guiding him into the celestial afterlife.
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| Object in the Ägyptisches Museum Berlin (Egyptian museum, building of the New Museum), Berlin. Date: 28 December 2005. Source: Created by Magnus Manske. Author: Magnus Manske. |
Similarly, in the Coffin Texts, she is identified with the Red Crown of Lower Egypt and the fiery uraeus serpent, often described as “the serpent who is upon her father.” Her image as a warrior goddess is further emphasized in myths that depict her as wielding a knife during the great cosmic battles between order and chaos.
.webp "ekhmet_(British_Museum)") |
| Sekhmet statue kept in the British Museum, London. Date: 12/07/2006. Medium: Granodiorite. Dimensions: Height: 206 cm (81.1 in). Collection: British Museum (wikidata:Q6373). Current location: Room 4. Accession number: EA 57. References: britishmuseum.org. Source/Photographer: Stormnight (Own work). |
Sekhmet’s role extended beyond myths of war and punishment. In funerary literature from the New Kingdom, she is often shown aboard the solar barque, standing guard to defend Ra from the chaos serpent, Apophis.
Texts from the Book of the Dead invoke Sekhmet’s might, with users hoping to vanquish their supernatural foes as decisively “as Sekhmet the Great would.
” King Rameses II even claimed that Sekhmet accompanied him into battle, her fiery breath poised to obliterate his enemies.
Although she was revered, Sekhmet also embodied the perilous and destructive side of the sun. Her association with the sun’s heat linked her to sunstroke, drought, famine, and even deadly plagues.
She was considered one of the most feared deities, with her "arrows" symbolizing the messengers of disease and destruction. Over time, these "arrows" were personified as seven plague-bringing entities.
However, as the controller of disease, Sekhmet was paradoxically also associated with healing. Her priests, active from the Old Kingdom onward, became renowned for their expertise in healing magic, blending rituals and spells to protect against illness.
One of Sekhmet’s most critical roles was during the dangerous transitional period between the old and new year when infectious diseases posed heightened risks.
Ancient Egyptians performed rituals to appease Sekhmet, transforming her from a raging lioness into a benevolent goddess.
By the New Kingdom, Sekhmet had come to represent the aggressive aspects of other significant goddesses, including Hathor, Mut, and even Isis in later traditions.
Sekhmet’s multifaceted nature as both a destructive force and a protector, healer, and divine warrior cements her position as one of ancient Egypt’s most revered and complex deities.
She remains a symbol of both the power of vengeance and the potential for restoration.