Permanently interacting with each other, these two realities were in a constant state of flux. It was believed that her breath created the desert.Sometimes known as sister to Bastet/Bast, a goddess who protected pregnant women and children. How can she be both warrior and peacemaker at the same time? Asclepius is a male greek good and known as the God of the medicine in ancient Greek and mythology who was honored by… Sekhmet is a symbol of warfare as well as healing. Sekhmet: The Lioness Goddess of Healing - Egyptian Mythology - See U in History#EgyptianMythology #Mythology #SeeUinHistory #History #MythologyExplained In this post, we tried to tell the story of Sekhmet the Egyptian Goddess of war, destruction and healing. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum Explore Deities - Great mother Isis, the goddess of healing and magic, was crucial to ancient Egyptian religious beliefs. Sekhmet’s Association with Other Gods/Goddesses. Sekhmet, Egyptian warrior goddess of healing, led the Egyptians fiercely into battle. Why exactly these two goddesses were associated with each other remains somewhat unclear; Hathor was seen as a kind and benevolent goddess, whereas Sekhmet was seen as a more brutal and harsh goddess. She was the patron of physicians and healers. Sekhmet was consort to Ptah (Creator God), and mother to Nefer-tem (God of Physicians). Many temples were dedicated to Sekhmet and her healing arts. This is sometimes called The War in Heaven. She was also daughter of Ra (King of Gods). There were many different ways Sekhmet was celebrated and various festivals dedicated to her. This aspect can be traced in the fact that many Egyptian kings adopted her as a military patroness and symbol of their own power in battle. Many pharaohs including Ramesses II used Sekhmet as a symbol of strength and power when going into battle. There are many artworks depicting Sekhmet including hieroglyphs and statues. Isis - Perhaps the most famous Goddess in this Egyptian Goddess list. Together, at this temple, they were referred to as the “Mistress of Imau.”. Her ferocious lion visage attests to the courage and brutality of her spirit. No matter how violent or destructive her actions, they are always morally correct and righteous. This is why it is so powerful. Attuned To High Priestess Divine Feminine Courageous Cat Medicine With Goddess Bastets Egyptian Star Medicine Session On Friday, Dec 11th Here: In this 2 hour sacred trance healing journey you will be attuned to Goddess Bastet's anointing perfumed aromatherapeutic feminine moon medicine made of love, fertility, sensuality, and music. She was described as the Goddess of Magic, Great Lady of Magic and Lady of the Words of Power. He was also their god of … However, at the end of this battle, which Sekhmet won, her lust for death and blood was still not quenched, thus she went on a murderous tirade against mankind. She was also regarded as the goddess of healing, protection and destruction. Her name, Sekhmet originates from the Egyptian word “Sekhem,” which roughly translates as ‘power’, ‘strength’, or ‘might’. This was in order to imitate the extreme drunken stupor Sekhmet was in, the stupor which stopped her from wiping humanity off the face of the earth. There was one pharaoh, Amenhotep III, who had a particular obsession with Sekhmet and had hundreds of statues built to honor her. This is why she was sometimes called “Nesert,” which translates as “the flame.” This illustrates just how much the ancient people feared and revered her. For so… She is known as the Victorious One in Battle and Lady of the Bloodbath - but also The One Who Comes in Peace and Goddess of Love. She was a role model for women, was a principal deity in rites for the dead, and cured the sick. If we go a little bit beyond a literal translation, the name Sekhmet is mostly translated as “The Powerful One” or also as “She Who Is Powerful.”, Just like with most or all other Egyptian gods and deities, she is not depicted completely as a human. To understand her is to better comprehend the process of healing. Osiris was the Egyptian god of the underworld. Frigga was the wife of the all-powerful Odin, and was considered a goddess of fertility and marriage within the Norse pantheon. Sekhmet Prayer Beads in Garnet: Egyptian Goddess of Healing, War, Justice and Vengeance HearthfireHandworks $ 53.00 FREE shipping POWERFUL ONE: Ritual Oil for Sekhmet, Egyptian Goddess of Fire, War, and Dance FireFoxAlchemy $ 10.00. They believed in the existence of two antagonistic realities, created at the very beginnings of time. Sekhmet’s role in the pantheon of deities is Protectress of the Divine Order. Ancient Egyptian deities represent natural and social phenomena, as well as abstract concepts. He is represented seated with a papyrus scroll across his … A Lioness-headed Neter (or goddess), her temples in Ancient Egypt were famed for their great healing powers. One of the most common was the celebration which would take place at the end of a battle, with the aim of pacifying her and stopping her from carrying out any more destruction. Blue colouring, found on representations of Ptah’s image, is a symbolic and visual means of showing his connection to Sirius. Sekhmet was a terrifying goddess, however for her friends she could avert plague and cure disease. Ra then poured out beer which was dyed blood red making Sekhmet think it was all blood. There was a temple built by Amenemhet II at the Imau in the western Delta, which honored Sekhmet and Hathor. Who the Goddess Sekhmet is. Amongst the most powerful of Egyptian deities was the Triad of Memphis– the Goddess Sekhmet and the gods Ptah and Nefer-tem. She is an ancient Egyptian solar goddess. Brigid - Celtic. ‘As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul’ Hermes Trismegistus, “Hermetic Corpus” (Ancient Text), R. Masters “The Goddess Sekhmet: Psycho Spiritual Exercises of the Fifth Way” (1991), Stephen S Mehler “The Land of Osiris” (2001), Photo credits: Shutterstock, Flickr, NASA. Sekhmet was associated both with disease and with healing and medicine. Sekhmet, also spelled Sakhmet, in Egyptian religion, a goddess of war and the destroyer of the enemies of the sun god Re. She also had strong links with the kingship and the pharaohs. Seated depictions of Sekhmet shows her holding the Ankh of Life, a very important symbol in Egyptian mythology. All healing is about returning balance and order to a disrupted organism. Turquoise was the stone of Hathor, the goddess of love, marriage, dance, and music. Throughout time Sekhmet’s image has been portrayed as the graceful body of a woman with a lioness head. Sekhmet predates the Ancient Egyptian culture where her image is now best known. Her adornments, crafted in stunning detail, all establish her as Egyptian … Many ancient myths associate the gods, especially Ptah and Sekhmet, with the Sirius star system. She is a member of the Memphite (cult center in Memphis) triad together with husband Ptah, the god of creation and wisdom and son Nefertum, the god of sunrise. In the myth, Sekhmet came to being after Ra gazed upon the earth. Horus – A major god, usually shown as a falcon or as a human child, linked with the sky, the sun, kingship, protection, and healing. The bewildering and numerous animal headed gods and goddesses (neters), found within the Ancient Egyptian pantheon, essentially represent the many aspects of this ‘battle’. She eventually absorbed the roles of many lesser Goddesses. Sekhem is an ancient and sacred healing system practiced widely in Ancient Egypt. Her aim is to restore justice and balance to the world. This would suggest that the pharaoh was created by Sekhmet. In this article, we will try to inform you about another prominent but lesser-known Egyptian god; Sekhmet the Egyptian goddess of war and healing. Osiris. Creating calm out of turmoil. Her name is derived from the Egyptian word “Sekhem” which translates as “power” or “might.” Seker Sekhmet was a feared goddess, but she was also praised for her role in healing and keeping plagues away. Sekhmet is an ancient Egyptian Goddess of war and destruction, plagues and healing. Sekhmet is also known as the mother of Maahes, who was the lion god, the patron of the pharaoh and of pyramid texts. Sekhmet’s name was derived from the word word sḫm, which translates into “power or might”. Her main roles are Mother, fertility Goddess and Goddess of magic and Healing. Many of the uses of crystals in Ancient Egypt have continued to this day, laying the foundation for our current knowledge of crystal healing. So here there is a distinct possibility that the gods’ origins, and consequently Sekhem energy, come directly to us from the Sirius Star System. The Egyptians believed that she was one of the later daughters of Ra, the creator sun god. It was said that he built enough of these statues so that people could honor her every day of the year with a different statue. Her name means "The Powerful One," and She is linked in some tales with Hathor. Depicted as a cat, lion or lioness. Often said to be the son of Osiris and … She is the goddess who embodies hemet (Sekhmet) meaning woman power - feminine energy at its strongest. Sekhmet was often referred to as “the red lady” indicating her connection with the desert, as well as the “lady of pestilence,” an indication of her fierce and ruthless nature. The original Khemitian (Ancient Egyptian) for Sirius is thought by some to be “Sa-Ptah”, meaning Birthplace of Ptah. The titles: "Great Goddess" and "the Divine One," are a testament to the power and appeal of this Egyptian Goddess.This Goddess even had temples dedicated to her as far away as Britain. She is depicted as a woman with the head of a lioness, sometimes also with the sun disk and uraeus on Her headdress, Who symbolizes the destructive heat of the sun. Like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, she was called the “Eye of Re.” Heka was an ancient Egyptian deity associated with health and wellness. In this gorgeous depiction, Sekhmet reigns from her throne as protector of pharaohs. Equally powerful but opposite in nature, an eternal battle raged between the two = the forces of Good versus the forces of Evil. Her adornments, crafted in … 12 She is considered a protector … She was identified as the Greek goddess Aphrodite and her cult spread as far as Great Britain and Afghanistan. She represents the power of maternal love, ferocious at times, but only so that she can protect what she loves and is responsible for. © 2021 Symbols and Their Meanings - Mythology and Gods - Mythical Creatures, The Star of David, (The Jewish Star) Its Meaning, Definition and History, Discover Osiris the Egyptian God of the Underworld, Learn More About the African Myth of Nyami Nyami, Kronos Mythology: Learn More About the Greek God. Serqet, Egyptian Goddess of Healing and Scorpions To warm myself up for not creating skins for 4 years now, I decided to join the Aztecs and Egyptians Skin Contest. Sekhmet is the Egyptian goddess of war, sun, plagues, destruction, and healing. The Ancient Egyptian concept of Heaven is radically different from religions today. Experts have been discussing that Sekhmet is a symbol of the north because papyrus came from the north, while some also say that she is a symbol of the south as many more lions lived in the southern parts of ancient Egypt. Her magician priests were skilled in the knowledge of anatomy, surgery and herbs, as well as sound and vibrational healing. She is shown in both seated and standing form in these works. However, in ancient times, this was situated on the desert’s edge on the route to Libya. Commonly referred to as the violent and aggressive manifestation of the Eye of Ra, Sekhmet had a sister called Hathor.Unlike Sekhmet, Hathor was a gentler peace-loving goddess. The ancient Greek god of healing and a son of Apollo, Asclepius is till today, still widely … She was feared by her enemies and those who did not follow her, often being called the “lady of terror.” However, her friends and followers called her “the lady of life.”, It was said that she could cure plagues and heal disease, with her priests and priestesses becoming very skilled healers and doctors. The literal meaning of the word Ptah is He Who Comes from the Blue, through the Waters, from the Stars. Sekhmet was the companion of the god Ptah and was worshipped principally at Memphis. Known as the Great One of Healing and Lady of Transformations it was to her temple that sick people came for help. Sekhmet is an ancient and revered deity in ancient Egyptian mythology. The god Heka was incorporated by practitioners into medicine — for the Egyptians, healing was seen as the province of the gods. Sekhmet is one of the most ancient and powerful deities known to man. She is known today by her Greek name Isis; however, the ancient Egyptians called her Aset. Sekhmet is the Egyptian goddess of the sun, war, destruction, plagues and healing. It was said that she could summon storms, plagues, and other unholy destructive forces against her enemies. Sekhmet literally means power. The end of her murderous tirade, which almost killed all mortals, is now celebrated at the beginning of each year. The hope was that this temple of Sekhmet would protect Egypt from invaders and enemies. That said, there is much more to it than that and it certainly is very rich of interesting figures and stories. The story of Sekhmet almost wiping out humanity is related to the end of Ra the Sun God’s rule. Imhotep ("he who comes in peace") (Immutef) is the god of medicine and healing. She then drank this red-dyed beer, became drunk, slept for 3 days, and then returned to Ra. Due to the similarities between Hathor, Sekhmet, and Bastet, their myths have been confused throughout history. In a sense, human illness and disease can be viewed as a microcosmic battle of the heavenly Cosmic and Chaotic energies. In ancient Egyptian mythology Sekhmet, also spelled Sakhmet, Sekhet, or Sakhet is a spiritual warrior goddess of healing and protection in Egypt. Brigid is a Celtic goddess revered for her many talents. Share the article if you liked it please, thanks! In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet was the goddess of the sun, fire plagues, healing and war.She had the head of a lioness and the body of a woman. Furthermore, she was seen as a force to be reckoned with. Isis was associated with fertili magic and healing. In this gorgeous depiction, Sekhmet reigns from her throne as protector of pharaohs. To clarify, Imau was located by a branch of the eastern Nile river, one that has since shifted to the east. Sekhmet was seen as a truly terrifying and scary goddess, being represented by the heat and brightness of the sun at midday. Sekhmet was closely associated with Hathor, who was the goddess of joy, music, dance, relaxation, sexual love, pregnancy, and a few other things too. Great gift idea for Kemetic, Pagan, … In the ancient Egyptian book of death, she is simultaneously known as a creator and a destructive force, with her main job being “the protector of balance and justice.”. This ancient power is beyond mortal comprehension, its origins linked to another star system. It is theorized that this festival was also meant to stave off the yearly flooding of the Nile and to stop Sekhmet from flooding and killing vast portions of Egypt. Asclepius (Aesculapius) - A god of healing of the Greeks also worshipped in Egypt at Saqqara and identified with the deified Imhotep. This fascinating but complex goddess is fundamentally a healer of mankind. When we think of Egyptian mythology, surely gods like Ra, Osiris and Anubis are the first names that come to mind. Sekhmet. Sekhmet the Goddess of War, Destruction and Healing in Egyptian Mythology When we think of Egyptian mythology, surely gods like Ra, Osiris and Anubis are the first names that come to mind. She was married to Ptah, the god of healing.They balanced each other. Isis was one of the last of the ancient Egyptian gods to still be worshipped. However, Bastet, the cat-headed or cat goddess, is … Sekhmet was one of the oldest goddesses of ancient Egypt. However, her standing depictions, or the ones where she is in stride, usually depict her holding a scepter made of papyrus. She was regarded as the goddess of war mainly. In other words, medicine was magic, and so to honor Heka was one of ​the several ways to bring about good health in someone who was ailing. Iuasaas - Female counterpart of Atum the creator God. Her ferocious lion visage attests to the courage and brutality of her spirit. Aphrodite has long been associated with love and beauty, and so has her counterpart, Venus. The center of his cult was Memphis. Ptah (Sekhmet’s consort) is usually depicted with blue skin or head covering, Sekhmet has also been found with fragments of blue pigment on her face in Egyptian temples. Blue is the key to their origins. These forces were Cosmos (powers and principalities of Order) and Chaos (Disordered powers and principalities). It is said that Ra sent Sekhmet to destroy all of the mortals in the world who conspired against him. The ancient Egyptians believed that Sekhmet had a cure for every problem. Asclepius. Here lies a dilemma. There was also a festival which would take place at the beginning of each year, one where Egyptians would play soothing music and get extremely intoxicated. As the wife of the Sun God, Ra, Hathor is known in Egyptian legend as the patroness of wives. His symbol, possibly derived from the god Heka, was a staff with a serpent entwined about it, associated in the modern day with healing and the medical profession, known as the Rod of Asclepius. There she was worshipped as being “the destroyer.” She was worshipped along with Ptah the creator and Nefertum the healer there. Although initially an obscure goddess, Isis came to fulfill a variety of roles, primarily as wife and mother, mourner, and magical healer. She is on the side of Cosmos. In order to stay on her good side, they offered her food and drink, played music for her, and burned incense. Sekhmet, Egyptian warrior goddess of healing, led the Egyptians fiercely into battle. Sekhmet has the body of a human with the head of a lion, thus often referred to as “The Lion-headed Woman.”. He was one of only a few commoners ever to be accorded divine status after death. Historical texts describe her as the Lady of the Beginning of Time and the One who was before the Gods Were. Sekhem literally means spiritual might or authority, and through it is experienced the Energy of the Great Mother, Sekhmet herself. It is said that her 3-day long sleep had dissipated her lust and thirst for blood; thus humanity had been spared. That said, there is much more to it than that and it certainly is very rich of interesting figures and stories. That being said, the main following or cult center of Sekhmet was in Men Nefer, now known as Memphis. The answer lies in her role. A solar deity sometimes called the daughter of Ra. As Protectress of the Divine Order, she destroys only for the purpose of rebuilding with love. She is one of the oldest deities and one of the most powerful. It's Egyptian name meant delight and was considered a feminine stone. Recently rediscovered, it connects to Sekhmet’s energy. She is said to be the daughter of the sun god Ra created when his eye looked upon the earth. The Goddess Sekhmet is the source of the wonderful healing energy called Sekhem today.