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Sekhmet's Egyptian Family

Ra

Sekhmet is Ra's daughter, Eye and the instrument of His vengence. Also known as Re, He is an Egyptian sun god and creator god and is often combined with other creater/sun Gods (Amun-Ra, Ra-Heru, etc.).

HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA WHEN HE RISETH

Adapted from the Papyrus of Ani; brought to you from Open, Sesame - a Wiccan place for global pagan networking, witchcraft, white magic, occult lore, Pagan worship, herbalism, mythology, poetry, spells and incantations, thoughts and information for all those who follow the right-hand path to the Goddess or the Old Gods.

Ra: Father of the Gods

"From very early times Ra was a sun god. He took on many of the attributes and even the names of other gods as Egyptian myths evolved. A good example of this is the god Ra and Amun merging to become Amun-Ra, or Ra and Horus combining to become Ra-Harakhte. Since Ra was a god of great antiquity, there are far to many stories connected with him to relate them all. I will relate some that I find interesting..."

Re, Egyptian sun god

"Re was usually depicted in human form with a falcon head, crowned with the sun disc encircled by the uraeus (a stylized representation of the sacred cobra). The sun itself was taken to be either his body or his eye. By the third millennium B.C. Re's prominence had already become such that the pharaohs took to styling themselves 'sons of Re'."

Bast

Depending on the myth, Bast (also known as Bastet) is the twin sister/mother/gentler version of Sekhmet. It's said that before She became the Matron of domestic cats, She also had a lion's head. She is green/dawn/spring/east where Sekhmet is red/noon/summer/west.

Bast Galleries

An artistic tribute to Bast via photography, drawings, poetry and essays, administered by my own soul sister, Zohara.

Bast's Tent at The Oasis

A tribute to the Goddess of "Speaking Your Mind" ... and a resource for like-minded followers.  "The Oasis" is the site (and Onelist email list!) administered by Zohara's husband/my soul brother, Herusun.

Cat Headed Beings

Contains information about both Bastet and Sekhmet.

The Cat Goddess Bast

More about Bastet, including links to other Bastet pages.

Heru

For me, this name usually indicates an aspect of the solar God Heru (also called Horus, and often confused with the son of Isis and Osiris, a younger God with the same name). These aspects of Heru (Ra-Heru, Heru Or, Ra-Herakte) are closely identified with Ra.

Heru's Oasis

A Webpage for Spiritual Seekers of all denominations to gather and build an online community. Also, the home page for The Oasis, a Onelist mailing list. Both are administered by a devotee of the solar Heru.

Horus: He Who Is Above

A site listing many of the different names/aspects of Heru.

Maahes

Represented as a lion, as a man with the head of a lion wearing a disk and a uraeus, or as a man (with an eye above his head) being devoured by a lion standing on its hind legs just behind him. A son of Ra and Bast, often identified with Shu and Nefertum. His name translates roughly to "fierce sighted" ('maa' being 'vision'; 'hes' being 'fierce').

Maa-hes

A page at the Modern Egyptian Ritual Magick site

Ptah

By most accounts, the "man" in Sekhmet's life and the father of Her various children.

 

Ptah: The Opener

"Ptah represents the sun at the time when it begins to rise above the horizon and or right after it has risen. As early as the Second Dynasty, he is regarded as a creator god. The patron of architects, artists and sculptors, it was Ptah who built the boats for the souls of the dead to use in the afterlife...."

Nefertem

The most famous son of Ptah and Sekhmet. Patron of Healers and physicians.

 

Ma'at

Ma'at is both the Goddess of Truth, but also its essence as well. Ma'at can best be described by comparing it to the Norse concept of wyrd, the fate/karma/synchronicity by which our lives are defined. It is the integrity of walking a path of rightness, of walking 'with the Gods'...in many ways it is seen as the fabric from which the universe is woven.. therefore it is inescapable. Ma'at, though not one of the Fates, is intimately involved with Their function, in many ways She governs the actions of the fates...it's very karma like: a balanced give and take, one reaps what one sows. When a Kemetic worshipper died, he or she ws expected to come before Anubis and Ma'at and recite the negative confession, a detailed account of what evils one has NOT done in one's life. Ma'at was the principle by which the soul was weighed.

Thanks to Tamyris, priestess of Sekhmet, for this excellent description of Ma'at!

Temple of Ma'at

"Ma'at is a female Neter, and is described as the daughter of the Creator-God. She is often portrayed as a human woman with wings. Her symbol is that of an ostrich feather, and She is often shown wearing it atop Her head. In one hand, She holds the sceptre, and in the other hand, the ankh."

Het Heret (Hathor)

Patroness of love, represented by a woman wearing the solar disc between cow's horns or by a cow wearing the solar disc and two plumes between her horns. In some stories, Sekhmet transforms into Het Heret after She is "tamed".

Hathor: Lady of Heaven

"Hathor was the goddess of joy, motherhood, and love. She was considered the protectress of pregnant women and a midwife. She was the patron of all women, no matter their station in life...."

Anpu (Anubis)

The jackel-headed child of Nebet Het (aka Nephthys) and either Ra, Set or Ausar (aka Osiris), depending on the myth. Anpu was also worshipped under the form "Wepuat" (Opener of the Ways), who conducted the souls of the dead to their judgement, and who monitored the Scales of Truth to protect the dead from deception and eternal death.

Anubis; The Jackel-Headed God

"Guardian of the Necropolis (cemetery). He was the guide of the dead as they made their way through the darkness of the underworld. As a patron of magic, it was believed he could foresee a persons destiny, in this role he was the announcer of death...."

Egypt: Gods - Anpu, or Anubis

Anpu is the Guide and Guardian of the Dead and plays a prominent role in the Book of the Dead.

Temple of Anubis

The online temple of a devotee of the jackel-headed God.

The Halls of Lord Anubis

Another online Home of Anpu by a Priest of Tehuti/Lector Priest of Sekhmet.

Other "Lion" Dieties of Egypt

Pakhet

Also know as Pasht. Represented as a woman with the head of a lionness. Originally worshipped at Benihason.

 

Shu

Personification of the atmosphere and husband/brother of Tefnut. Represented as a bearded man wearing plumes or as a lion

 

Tefnut

Personification of moisture and the sister/wife of Shu. Represented as a woman, sometimes with the head of a lioness, or as a lionness.

 

Reflections of Sekhmet from outside of Egypt
(Please note: this is based on personal experience -- I make no claims that any of these dieties had direct historical connections to Sekhmet!)

Durga

A Hindu Goddess closely related to Kali, She is often portrayed riding on the back of a lion or tiger, spearing Her enemies while wearing a beneficent smile. She is one of the most common forms of the consort of Shiva, particularly in the Tantras, which always assume the form of a dialogue between Shiva and His bride.

Durga Puja

A site about a four day Puja (Worship) of Durga, starting from the day of Bodhan on MahaShasthi and ending up with the immersion of the clay made Idols in the sacred river Ganga (the Ganges) on the evening of Dashami.

Astarte (Ashtoreth)

Represented in Egypt as a woman on horseback brandishing weapons, she is an Asiatic diety identified by the Egyptians as an aspect of the Goddess of war and regarded as a daughter of Re, or of Ptah.

 

Qetesh

Represented in Egypt as a naked woman holding flowers and standing on the back of a lion, she is an Asiatic diety identified by the Egyptians with Het Heret (Hathor), as an aspect of the Goddess of love.