"The good god, the lord of action, Neb-Ma'at-Re [Amenhotep III], Beloved of Sekhmet, the Mistress of Dread, who gives life eternally. The son of the God Re of His own body, Amenhotep, ruler of Waset (Thebes), Beloved of Sekhmet, the Mistress of Dread, Who gives life eternally."

-- Inscription on a statue of Sekhmet

The lion-headed goddess Sekhmet was a member of the Memphite Triad, thought to be the wife of Ptah and mother of Nefertem (though the motherhood of Nefertem was in dispute - Bast and Wadjet (Edjo) were touted as his mother in their respective cities). Associated with war and retribution, she was said to use arrows to pierce her enemies with fire, her breath being the hot desert wind as her body took on the glare of the midday sun. She represented the destructive force of the sun.

According to the legends, she came into being when Hathor was sent to earth by Re to take vengeance on man. She was the one who slaughtered mankind and drank their blood, only being stopped by trickery She was, thus, the destructive side of the sun, and a solar goddess and given the title Eye of Re.

Being mother of Nefertem, who himself was a healing god, gives her a more protective side that manifested itself in her aspect of goddess of healing and surgery. Part of her destruction side was also disease and plague, as the 'Lady of Pestilence'... but she could also cure said ailments. The priests of Sekhmet were specialists in the field of medicine, arts linked to ritual and magic. They were also trained surgeons of remarkable caliber. Pharaoh Amenhotep III had many statues of Sekhmet, and it has been theorised that this was because he dental and health problems that he hoped the goddess may cure. Golden Statue of Sekhmet

Hundreds of Amenhotep's Sekhmet statues were found in the Theban temple precinct of the goddess Mut at South Ipet-Isut (Karnak). The statues may have been made for the king's funerary temple on the West Bank of the Nile and may have been dispersed to other sites at Waset and elsewhere beginning with the reign of Ramesses II.

Sekhmet was depicted as a lion-headed woman with the sun disk and uraeus serpent headdress. Although she is connected with Bast, she has no relationship with the cat goddess. They are two distinct goddesses in their own rights - the Egyptians did not claim they were siblings of any kind. Bast and Sekhmet were an example of Egyptian duality - Sekhmet was a goddess of Upper Egypt, Bast of Lower Egypt (just like the pharaoh was of Upper and/or Lower Egypt!)... and they were linked together by geography, not by myth or legend.

Sekhmet is the inner nature of Hathor; that fierce protective power which arises when an object of love is threatened. Similarly, Sekhmet is also gentle, as a lioness can be. In this capacity She is Goddess of healing. As she healed the woes of Re, so Her priests and priestesses were medicos.

Sekhmet is one of the oldest known forms of Netjer in Egyptian history. She the 'patron' of the Physicians, Physician-Priests and Healers. Because She is one of the most powerful of all the Names of Netjer, (Her name literally translated means "Mighty One", or "Powerful One"). Her Name is derived from the Egyptian word 'Sekhem', which means "power" or "might". The word sekhem' is literally inseperable from Sekhmet and Her worship. Because of these facts, She is often times misunderstood and portrayed only in a negative way This is probably because of legends of how Sekhmet, as the destructive Eye of Re was sent forth to punish humanity for its mockery of Her Father, Re.

But in spite of the fact that She is sometimes 'destructive', Her qualities as Healer, Mother and Protector are often overlooked. In the realm of Ancient Egyptian Medicine, almost all healers and surgeons of Ancient Kemet would most certainly have fallen under Sekhmet's jurisdiction. Sekhmet was mentioned a number of times in the spells of The Book of the Dead:

The Chapter of Driving Back

The Slaughters Which are Performed in Hensu My belly and back are the belly and back of Sekhmet. My buttocks are the buttocks of the Eye of Horus.

The Chapter of Giving a Heart to the Osiris

May the goddess Sekhmet raise me, and lift me up. Let me ascend into heaven, let that which I command be performed in Hikuptah. I know how to use my heart. I am master of my heart-case. I am master of my hands and arms. I am master of my legs. I have the power to do that which my KA desireth to do. My Heart-soul shall not be kept a prisoner in my body at the gates of Amentet when I would go in in peace and come forth in peace.

The Mennefer Triad - Nefertem, Sekhmet and Ptah

The Osiris Whose Word is Truth I have made supplication to the Khati gods and to Sekhmet in the temple of Nit, or the Aged Ones ... I have approached with worship the two Khati gods and Sekhmet, who are in the temple of the Aged One [in Anu].

The Chapter of Opening the Mouth

I am the goddess Sekhmet, and I take my seat upon the place by the side of Amt-ur the great wind of heaven.

Festivals: (exact dates not historically verified)

12 August - 25th Thuti - Day of Sekhmet's repulsion of Set

17th Ocotber - 1st Koiak - Month of Koiak Begins; The feast of Sekhmet

31st October - 15th Koiak - Feast of Sekhmet, Bast and Re

20th November - 5th Tybi - Day of Sekhmet and the Purifying Flame

24th November - 9th Tybi - Day of Offerings to Sekhmet

28th November - 13th Tybi - Feast of Het-Hert (Hathor) and Sekhmet

14th December - 29th Tybi - Tehuti (Thoth) sends Bast and Sekhmet to guide Egypt

28th December - 13th Mechir - Day of Sekhmet Going forth to Letopolis

31st December - 16th Mechir - Feast of Sekhmet

12th March - 27th Parmutit - End of the World by Sekhmet

The Hundred Names of Sekhmet

at One of Magic

Mother of the Netjeru

One Who Was Before The Netjeru Were

Lady Of The Place Of The Beginning of Time

Beloved of Ra, Her Father

Beloved of Bast, Her Sister

Beloved of Ptah, Her Husband-Brother

At Whose Wish The Arts Were Born

Beautiful Eye Which Giveth Life To The Two Lands

Beautiful Face, Image Most Beloved By Art

Flaming One

Sovereign of Re, Her Father

Protectress Of The Netjeru

Lady of the Scarlet-Colored Garment

Pure One

Destroyer of Rebellions

Eye of Re

Eye of Heru (Horus)

Pre-Eminent One In The Boat Of Millions Of Years

Roamer of Deserts

Wanderer in the Wastes

Self-Contained

Only One

Awakener

Lady of Enchantments

Opener of Ways

Lady Of Transformations

Lady Of The Many Faces

Enrapturing One

Giver Of Ecstasies

Satisfier Of Desires

Inspirer of Men

Victorious One In Battles

Overcomer Of All Enemies

Ruler Of The Desert

Ruler Of Serpents And Of Dragons

Ruler Of Lions

Sublime One

Enlightener

Empowerer

Sparkling One

Great One Of Heka

Lady Of The Magic Lamp

Mother Of The Dead

Lady Of The Bloodbath

Destroyer By Plagues

Great One of Healing

Destroyer By Fire

Lady Of The Waters Of Life

Mistress And Lady Of The Tomb

Great One In The Places Of Judgement And Execution

Guide And Protectress From The Perils Of The Underworld

Great One Of The Place Of Appearances In Silence

Lady Of The Way of Five Bodies

Unrivaled And Invincible One

Ruler Of The Chamber Of Flames

The Source

She Whose Opportunity Escapeth Her Not

Winged One

Powerful Of Heart

The Aware

The Gleaming One

Sekhmet, Who Reduceth To Silence

Sekhmet, Who Rouseth The People

Lady Of Jubilation

Adorable One

Shining Of Countenance

Mother Of Images

Incomparable One

Lady Of Intoxications

Mightier Than The Netjeru

Most Beautiful

Most Strong

Great One Of Laws

Protectress Of The Divine Order

The One Who Holds Back Darkness

The Beautiful Light

Warrior Netjert

Netjert of Love

Great One In Heaven

Great Serpent On The Head Of Her Father

Great One Of The Incense Of The Ennead

Great Lady of The House of Life

Queen Of The Venerable Ones

Lady Of The House Of Books

Devouring One

Sekhmet Of The Knives

Burner Of Evildoers

The One Before Whom Evil Trembles

Terrible One

Lady Of All Powers

Eternal As Her Father

Lady Of The Manifold Adornments

Most Beautiful Among The Netjeru

Bountiful One

Sekhmet Who Gives Joys

Unwavering, Loyal One

Beloved Teacher

Beloved Sekhmet

12 August - 25th Thuti - Day of Sekhmet's repulsion of Set

17th Ocotber - 1st Koiak - Month of Koiak Begins; The feast of Sekhmet

31st October - 15th Koiak - Feast of Sekhmet, Bast and Re

20th November - 5th Tybi - Day of Sekhmet and the Purifying Flame

24th November - 9th Tybi - Day of Offerings to Sekhmet

28th November - 13th Tybi - Feast of Het-Hert (Hathor) and Sekhmet

14th December - 29th Tybi - Tehuti (Thoth) sends Bast and Sekhmet to guide Egypt

28th December - 13th Mechir - Day of Sekhmet Going forth to Letopolis

31st December - 16th Mechir - Feast of Sekhmet

12th March - 27th Parmutit - End of the World by Sekhmet

Sources:

Egyption Book Of The Dead

http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/7544/sekhmet.html

http://showcase.netins.net/web/ankh/sekhsigntest.html

http://showcase.netins.net/web/ankh/skmtnames.html

http://members.aol.com/egyptart/sekmet.html

http://www.kemet.org/glossary/sekhmet.html

http://geocities.com/wulfwuman/SekhmetsDawn.html

http://www.knowmadz.org/meta/egypt/sekhmet.htm

http://www.teenwitch.com/DEITY/KMT/SEKHMET.HTM

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dimension/6941/sekhmet/