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Selket was the goddess of scorpions, magic,
childbirth and nursing. Depicted in the form of a woman with a scorpion on her
head, Her roles in Egyptian mythology were many, mostly as a beneficial goddess.
She watched over one of the four sons of
Horus, who in turn protected the intestines of the deceased. Other connections
with the afterlife include her epithet, "Lady of the Beautiful Tent"
which referred to her as a protector of the embalmer's tent.
In the Afterlife she was said to watch over a
dangerous twist in a pathway. She was also credited with guarding the snake,
Apep following his imprisonment in the Underworld.
Selket was also related to the sun's
scorching heat. In the Book of the Dead, she is a protector of the dead
and was one of four gilded Goddesses who protected entombed bodies.
Selket used her magic to offer protection
from venomous bites and She was the patroness of magicians who dealt with poisonous
bites. Surprisingly though, it was usually Isis who was invoked in spells
against scorpion stings.
Selket was the goddess of scorpions, magic,
childbirth and nursing. Depicted in the form of a woman with a scorpion on her
head, Her roles in Egyptian mythology were many, mostly as a beneficial goddess.
She watched over one of the four sons of
Horus, who in turn protected the intestines of the deceased. Other connections
with the afterlife include her epithet, "Lady of the Beautiful Tent"
which referred to her as a protector of the embalmer's tent.
In the Afterlife she was said to watch over a
dangerous twist in a pathway. She was also credited with guarding the snake,
Apep following his imprisonment in the Underworld.
Selket was also related to the sun's
scorching heat. In the Book of the Dead, she is a protector of the dead
and was one of four gilded Goddesses who protected entombed bodies.
Selket used her magic to offer protection
from venomous bites and She was the patroness of magicians who dealt with poisonous
bites. Surprisingly though, it was usually Isis who was invoked in spells
against scorpion stings.
Egyptian Museum, Cairo Dynasty XVIII,
1347-1337 B.C.
She is one of the four protector goddesses who, with gracefully outstretched
arms protect the gilded wooded shrine that houses the alabaster chest containing
the four canopic jars which hold the royal viscera of King Tutankhamen. Her
responsibility is to protect Qebehsenuef, god guarding the intestines. She is
usually represented as a lady whose head is surmounted by a scorpion with it’s
tail raised ready to sting. Selket has healing powers over venomous bites and
she was patroness of magician-medics dealing with poisonous bites. She was also
known as “lady of the beautiful house” referring to her association with the
embalmer’s tent. Here she is dressed like a queen. The khat headdress adorns
the head and tumbles down over the back; a large collar covers the shoulders.
The pleated shawl is tied at the waist, partially covering the elegant, long
pleated robe tied with hanging sashes. Selket turns her head slightly to one
side as if to ward off some danger.
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