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Role Play that focuses on the ancient Egyptian Netjeru- the Gods and Goddesses of Egypt |
-- 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/
