"imgWithCarousel": true, Seshat (Ancient Egyptian: s3t, under various spellings[2]) was the ancient Egyptian goddess of writing, wisdom, and knowledge. In mythology, Seshat was Thoth's sister or daughter then she became his . Sign up now for weekly facts, the latest blogs, and interesting features. Seshat was the essence of cosmic intuition, creating the geometry of the heavens alongside Thoth. Women in ancient Egypt enjoyed a level of equality unmatched in the ancient world. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; Egyptian society was quite conservative and written works generally adhered to a set structure and theme throughout the various periods of history. Seshat the Goddess was actually the sole true creator of the hieroglyph. Seshat was also associated with architecture, astrology, astronomy, mathematics and accounting. Her name literally means "female scribe" and she is regularly depicted as a woman wearing a leopard skin draped over her robe with a headdress of a seven-pointed star arched by a crescent in the form of a bow. Seshat, Goddess of WritingCharles Edwin Wilbour Fund (Public Domain). Still, when it comes to the majority of women in Egypt, images and inscriptions leave some doubt as to how many could actually read and write. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Goddess of magic in Egyptian mythology. The emblem was a long stem with a seven-petal flower on top and surmounted by a pair of horns; the archaic form had seven petals (the vertical shaft as 8), (as a vertical, with two crossed lines-(4), as a 'star', and one horizontal, giving 7+ the 1-vertical shaft), and surmounted by two enclosing sickle-shaped signs, two falcon-feathers on top. He was associated by the Egyptians with speech, literature, arts, learning. Seshat carved on the back of the throne of the seated statue of Rameses II in the Amun temple at Luxor. Today's crossword puzzle clue is a general knowledge one: Goddess of magic in Egyptian mythology. A cookie which helps me track how many visitors come to my site and what pages they look at. Only 3 left in stock - order soon. "layout": "horizontal", As the divine measurer and scribe, Seshat was believed to appear to assist the pharaoh in both of these practises. Seshat is almost like the 'Egyptian Fairy Godmother' and her magic wand with its seven pointed star was the symbol which represented the source of all creative ideas. In art, Seshat is often depicted as a young woman dressed in a leopard skin, which was an ancient form of dress worn by funerary priests, with a headdress consisting of a star or a flower above her head. Best Answer. } "button": false, surmounted by horns. Closely linked to the throne, she was one of the greatest goddesses of Ancient Egypt. AMONG SESHATS RESPONSIBILITIES WERE RECORD KEEPING, ACCOUNTING, MEASUREMENTS, CENSUS-TAKING, AND PATRONESS OF LIBRARIES & LIBRARIANS. We care about our planet! Seshat was known by the epithet Mistress of the House of Books because she looked after the library of the gods and was the patron of all earthly libraries. }, Wiki User. He had sanctuaries and temples throughout Egypt, but his main cult center was at Thebes. options: { The ancient Egyptians believed that what was done on earth was mirrored in the celestial realm of the gods. The House of Life was a combination library, scriptorium, institute of higher learning, writer's workshop, print shop/copy center, publisher, and distributor. Its very title may reflect the power of life that was believed to exist in the divinely inspired writings composed, copied, and often stored thereIn one ancient text the books in the House of Life are claimed not only to have the ability to renew life but actually to be able to provide the food and sustenance needed for the continuation of life (Handbook, 203-204). [1] Name in hieroglyphs Symbol leopard skin, tablet, star, stylus Parents Thothand Maat(in some accounts) Part of a serieson Ancient Egyptianreligion Beliefs Afterlife Cosmology Duat Ma'at Mythology Numerology Philosophy amzn_assoc_linkid = "4eda58dec7c8b129d359fd25811237dd"; Unlike the major gods of Egypt, Seshat never had her own temples, cult, or formal worship. It made the transitory world of change into one everlasting & eternal. The leopard skin would represent her power over, and protection from, danger as leopards were a common predator. "max-width": "100%", So far, no temple specifically dedicated to Seshat has been located and there is no documentary evidence that one ever existed. Combinedwith sung god Ra to become more powerful. She was also the "mistress of builders", and laid the plans for the construction and expansion of sacred sites such as temples. } She was also an integral part of the temple through her supervision of the House of Life. The Egyptians saw writing as a form of magic, believing that if something could be created in the form of the written word, it could also manifest into the world through the word as a medium, something that holds true for many magical systems to this present day. It is used on the obverse, Row III (of VI rows), and is used twice in King Year Record 34, and 40 of King Den. }, To discover her intriguing story, keep reading. "font-size": "26px" He came to camp at twelve years old "Add 'em all up, and you'll still get zero!"-What The World Needs, Ride The Cyclone Andrew Hamilton was born Seshat, goddess of writing, literature, measurement, and books and Marco Hamilton on June 9, 2004 in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Copy. Her husband Thoth taught the people to write. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Dani Rhys has worked as a writer and editor for over 15 years. The Tree of Life His feminine counterpart was Seshat. Thoth is the messenger much like the Greek god, Hermesa transmutation made from Egyptian to Greek mythology. In the Pyramid Texts, Kebechet is referred to as a serpent who "refreshes and purifies" the pharaohs. You may change your settings at any time. As the goddess of the written word, Seshat took care of the library of the gods, and so became known as the Mistress of the House of Books. The Egyptians referred to the institution as Per-Ankh (literally House of Life) and it is first mentioned in inscriptions from the Middle Kingdom. The spells of The Egyptian Book of the Dead are the best examples of this concept. She was an exotic dancer with spirit-realm connections. A number of other women were depicted holding the scribes palette and brush, indicating that they could write, but not actually engaged in writing. "img": false, According to the texts, the king was assisted in this ritual by Seshat (or Sefkhet-Abwy), the scribal goddess of writing and measurement (Temples, 38). They had a child called Hornub. She also kept track of tribute owed and tribute paid to the king and, beginning in the New Kingdom (c. 1570-1069 BCE), was closely associated with the pharaoh recording the years of his reign and his jubilee festivals. World History Encyclopedia. As writing was both a creative and preserving art, one which brought concepts to life and caused them to endure, which bestowed eternal life on both the writer and the subject, Seshat would be considered by the ancient Egyptians as the goddess responsible for the preservation of Egyptian culture and its enduring fascination among the people of the present day. apiKey: 'f97587f900f36918a9a61c58e6050144', She was also an integral part of the temple through her supervision of the House of Life. Wilkinson notes how by virtue of her role in the foundation ceremony [Seshat] was a part of every temple building (Complete Gods, 167). When an author created a story, inscription, or book on earth, an ethereal copy was transferred to Seshat who placed it in the library of the gods; mortal writings were therefore also immortal. "product": { } Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley writes: Although the only Egyptian woman to be depicted actually putting pen to paper was Seshat, the goddess of writing, several ladies were illustrated in close association with the traditional scribe's writing kit of palette and brushes. Serapis Syncretic god of the afterlife. The scribes were most commonly associated with the sun god Ra in earlier times and with Osiris in later periods no matter which god resided in a particular temple. Egyptologist Richard H. Wilkinson notes how Seshat appears in reliefs and inscriptions in the Early Dynastic Period as a goddess of measurements and writing, clearly indicating she was already an important deity at that time: Representations show the king involved in a foundation ritual known as "stretching the cord" which probably took place before work began on the construction of a temple or of any addition. }, Note: the Gardiner font reads left-to-right; the Palermo Stone is written opposite: right-to-left. "margin-bottom": "0px" (Handbook,199). "text-align": "left", She works as the chief editor of Symbol Sage but also takes the time to write on topics that interest her. The crescent above her headdress, resembling a bow, could represent dexterity and precision, if one interprets it along the lines of archery, or simply divinity if one takes the symbol as representing light, along the lines of later depictions of saints with halos. Text is available under the . Seshat Egyptian Goddess of the Written Word, Cross Crosslets Meaning and History of This Unique Cross Type, Pan and Syrinx: A Tale of Love (or Lust?) It is a certainty that the majority of the priests and scribes of the Per-Ankh were men but some scholars have pointed to evidence for female scribes. Goddess of scorpions: Seshat: Goddess of writing and measurement: Seth: God of chaos/change, deserts, storms, foreigners: Mortal enemy and brother to Osiris, Husband to Nephthys. Kebechet: . Thoth is the god of writing, wisdom, the moon, and magic. He killed his brother Osiris because . The Greek designation hieroglyphics for the Egyptian writing system means "sacred carvings" and is a translation from the Egyptian phrase medu-netjer, "the god's words". Seshat was also given the epithet Mistress of the House of Architects and from at least the Second Dynasty she was associated with a ritual known as pedj shes (stretching the cord) which was conducted as part of the foundation rituals when erecting stone buildings. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Seshat (Sesha, Sesheta or Safekh-Aubi) was a goddess of reading, writing, arithmetic, and architecture who was seen as either the female aspect of Thoth, his daughter, or his wife. The spells the soul speaks help one to navigate through assorted dangers to arrive at the perfect paradise of the Field of Reeds. Representations of her typically show her dress to be a plain sheath covered by a long panther skin, with the tail reaching her feet. The House of Life was a combination library, scriptorium, institute of higher learning, writers workshop, print shop/copy center, publisher, and distributor. 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