Seshat

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Ancient Egyptian deity

title: "Seshat" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["egyptian-goddesses", "wisdom-goddesses", "knowledge-goddesses", "scribes", "writing", "thoth"] description: "Ancient Egyptian deity" topic_path: "geography/egypt" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seshat" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Ancient Egyptian deity ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox deity"]

FieldValue
typeEgyptian
nameSeshat
imageSeshat edit2.svg
captionSeshat, depicted in a leopard skin with her emblem above her head, inscribing the years of reign for the king on a palm-leaf rib (hieroglyph for "year").
hieroR20-t-B1
symbolLeopard skin, tablet, star, Cannabis flower, stylus
parentsThoth and Maat
consortThoth
::

| type = Egyptian | name = Seshat | image = Seshat edit2.svg | caption = Seshat, depicted in a leopard skin with her emblem above her head, inscribing the years of reign for the king on a palm-leaf rib (hieroglyph for "year"). | hiero = R20-t-B1 | symbol = Leopard skin, tablet, star, Cannabis flower, stylus | parents = Thoth and Maat | consort = Thoth

Seshat (, under various spellings) was the ancient Egyptian goddess of writing, wisdom, and knowledge. She was seen as a scribe and record keeper. She was also credited with inventing writing. She became identified as the goddess of measurement, accounting, architecture, science, astronomy, mathematics, geometry, history and surveying. She was variously depicted as the wife, daughter, or feminine counterpart of Thoth, who was also associated with knowledge, astronomy, measurement, and writing.****

History

Seshat is attested from at least the First Dynasty. Her priests and image are referenced in the Royal Annals of the Old Kingdom, during the reign of Den. She was depicted in image as early as the Second Dynasty, where she was shown conducting the "stretching the cord" ritual with Khasekhemwy. The antiquity of her symbols, such as the notched palm stick that predated writing, suggests that she may have originated earlier than the First Dynasty. In addition, examples of her emblem, or symbols that appear related, have been found dating from the 3rd millennium BC Protodynastic Period.

Starting in the Middle Kingdom, Seshat was alternatively represented by the name Sefkhet-Abwy. Seshat and Sefkhet-Abwy continued to be depicted until at least the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Iconography

In ancient Egyptian art, she was depicted as a woman with a seven-pointed emblem above her head or extending from a headband. This emblem was the origin of an alternate name for Seshat, Sefkhet-Abwy, which may be translated as "seven-horned". She was frequently shown in a leopard-skin or dress, sometimes with a robe layered under a skin. The leopard-skin was a symbol of funerary priests, with the pattern on the natural hide thought to represent the stars, being a symbol of eternity, and to be associated with the night sky.

Usually, Seshat is shown holding a notched palm rib, the symbol for "year" in Egyptian hieroglyphics. The stem was often depicted ending in a tadpole above a shen ring, representing 100,000 and infinity, respectively. Seshat's notching of the stem indicated the recording of the passage of time, especially that of the king's lifespan. Hieroglyphs representing festivals were shown as suspended from the palm stem when Seshat recorded these events. She was also depicted holding other tools, often the knotted cords that were stretched to survey land and structures.

Roles

Seshat was the divine measurer and scribe, and thus assisted the pharaoh in both of these practises. Her skills were necessary for surveying the land, to re-establish boundary-lines after the annual floods. The priestess who officiated at these functions in her name also oversaw the staff of others who performed similar duties and were trained in mathematics and the related store of knowledge. She also was responsible for recording the speeches the pharaoh made during the crowning-ceremony.

As early as the Old Kingdom, Seshat was depicted recording the goods, loot, and captives brought to Egypt, especially those gained in military campaigns. She was also shown conducting cattle censuses. From the Middle Kingdom onwards, she was depicted recording foreign tribute given to Egypt.

Seshat was closely associated with Thoth (Ancient Egyptian: Ḏḥwtj), the reckoner of time and god of writing, who was also venerated as a god of wisdom. The two shared some overlapping functions and she was variously considered to be his sister, wife, or daughter. Seshat invented writing and Thoth taught writing to man. Seshat also appeared in funerary contexts, where, along with Nephthys, she restored the limbs of the deceased. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Hatshepsut_and_Seshat.jpg" caption="[[Hatshepsut]] (c. 1479–1458 BC) and Seshat in a sunken relief at the [[Red Chapel]], depicted performing the "stretching the cord" ritual for the temple's founding."] ::

"Stretching the Cord" Ritual

Seshat held titles related to construction, including "Lady of Builders", as she was involved in planning the building and expansion of sacred sites, such as temples.

The "stretching the cord" ritual, or pedj-sesh(r) ceremony, is one such example. This ritual related to laying out the foundations of temples and other important structures. It would have helped plan dimensions and align structures to astronomic or geographic features, while fixing the ground plan and determining its corners. It involved the use of rope/cord, poles/stakes, and clubs/mallets. Depictions of the ritual typically showed Seshat and the king, across from another, holding these tools and "stretching" the cord between them. The god Horus is sometimes depicted alongside them.

Text from the Palermo Stone indicates that this festival was performed at least as early as the First Dynasty, where it involved her priests. The oldest iconographic depiction dates from the Second Dynasty, where Seshat and Khasekhemwy carry out the ritual. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/SFEC-RAMASSEUM-2009-11-14-0011.JPG" caption="Depiction of Seshat, [[Thoth]], and [[Atum]] (not pictured) writing on the fruit of the sacred persea or ''ished'' tree. Sunken relief from the [[Ramesseum]], mortuary temple of [[Ramesses II]] (c. 1303–1213 BC)."] ::

Sed Festival

By the New Kingdom, she was involved in the Sed festival, a ceremony attested since the Early Dynastic Period. Also called the Heb Sed, the festival celebrated the continuing reign of a king, typically after thirty years of rule. Seshat, sometimes alongside Thoth, recorded the king's jubilees and regnal years on a notched palm rib or the leaves of the sacred ished (or persea) tree. Seshat and Thoth would have also recorded the names and histories of kings on the sacred ished tree.

Worship

Seshat was strongly associated with the king's reign and official ceremonies. She was not worshipped by the general populace and did not have a dedicated cult or temple of her own. However, her role in the "stretching the cord" ritual would have involved her in the founding of every temple. Likewise, her association with writing and architecture would have made her a patroness of scribes and builders.

Seshat held various titles related to writing and libraries, including "Mistress of Scribes" and "Lady of Books," as her priests oversaw the places in which scrolls of knowledge were assembled and spells were preserved. This responsibility would have involved her in the House of Life, a place where scribes were trained. Heliopolis was the location of her principal sanctuary.

A prince of the Fourth Dynasty, Wep-em-nefret, is noted as a priest of Seshat (among other deities) on a slab stela from his tomb.

Emblem

The Seshat emblem is a hieroglyph representing the goddess Seshat in ancient Egypt. In art, it was shown above her head or as part of her headpiece.

It is unclear what the emblem symbolises. It is variably described as a flower, star, or rosette below a crescent or arc. Alternatively, the emblem may represent a device similar to the Roman groma or a method of identifying directions through the use of gnomons. It is typically shown with seven points and one "stem" of variable length extending from the bottom. The points of the emblem may be depicted with varying shapes and levels of detail, but remain symmetrical. It may also be depicted with a disc or ring in its centre.

The emblem has two main variations. During the Old Kingdom, the upper arc was depicted as whole with two upright feathers on top (Gardiner R21). By the New Kingdom, the arc was split into two "horns" with upright points replacing the feathers (Gardiner R20). Both variations remained in use throughout the New Kingdom and onwards. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Abhandlungen_der_Königlich_Preussischen_Akademie_der_Wissenschaften_aus_dem_Jahre_(1902)_(16765759871).jpg" caption="Fifth Dynasty]], 2392–2283 BCE), edited for readability. Seshat's emblem appears twice in the third row down, in the sections 7th and 13th from the right."] ::

The famous 24th century BC Palermo Stone, a piece of the Royal Annals of the Old Kingdom stele, has multiple uses of Seshat's emblem. It occurs twice on the "front" (or recto) side, in years 34 and 40 under Den. One of these examples is arranged below, reading approximately: "(Year:) Creating (images of) Seshat and Mafdet." This refers to the creation of the goddesses' cult images, such as statues, as a defining event for the year.

The Seshat emblem is also used on the Palermo Stone to represent Seshu, the male counterpart of Seshat.

F31:X1.R21 ! U1-S39-Z9:Z9 ! I9:D47:X1-S39-Z9:Z9 !!

Gallery

File:SFEC EGYPT KARNAK 2006-014.JPG|Seshat (third from the left) shown performing the "stretching the cord" ritual with Ramesses II (second from the left). Sunken relief at the Karnak Temple Complex. File:Temple of Edfu 15.jpg|Ptolemy III and Seshat, with Horus alongside, depicted conducting the "stretching of the cord". Bas-relief in the Temple of Edfu (c. 237–57 BC), Ptolemaic dynasty. File:Kom Ombo 23.jpg|Seshat shown holding the mallet, pole, and rope used in the "stretching the cord" ritual, alongside Horus. Bas-relief at the Temple of Kom Ombo (c. 180–47 BC), Ptolemaic dynasty. File:Goddess Seshat, ca. 1919-1875 B.C.E., 52.129.jpg|Depiction of Seshat writing. Sunken relief in limestone from the Pyramid Temple of Senusret I (Dynasty 12, c. 1919–1875 BC); copy of a relief made for Pepi II (Dynasty 6, c. 2284–2214 BC). File:Luxor temple 16.jpg|alt=Bust depiction of Seshat recording the king's life on the palm rib. Thoth (not pictured) is doing likewise across from her. Sunken relief in granite from the back of the throne of the statue of Ramesses II, in the Amun temple at Luxor (c. 1250 BCE).|Depiction of Seshat recording the king's life on the palm rib. Thoth (not pictured) is doing likewise across from her. Sunken relief in granite from the back of the throne of the statue of Ramesses II, in the Amun temple at Luxor (c. 1250 BCE). File:Seshat in Luxor.jpg|Full length of Seshat from the previous image.

Notes

References

References

  1. (2003). "The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt". Thames & Hudson.
  2. (2009). "Encyclopedia of African Religion". Sage.
  3. Gregory, Steven R.W.. (2022-02-04). "Tutankhamun Knew the Names of the Two Great Gods: Dt and nHH as Fundamental Concepts of Pharaonic Ideology". Archaeopress Publishing Ltd.
  4. Wilkinson, Toby A. H.. (2000). "Royal Annals Of Ancient Egypt: The Palermo Stone and its Associated Fragments". Kegan Paul International.
  5. Wainwright, G. A.. (1940). "Seshat and the Pharaoh". The Egypt Exploration Fund.
  6. Magdolen, Dušan. (2006). "The Development of the Sign of the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Seshat Down to the End of the Old Kingdom: Analysis and Interpretation – Part Three". Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences.
  7. Magdolen, Dušan. (2005). "The Development of the Sign of the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Seshat Down to the End of the Old Kingdom: Analysis and Interpretation – Part One". Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences.
  8. (2005). "The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses". Routledge.
  9. Bunson, Margaret R.. (2002). "Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt". Facts on File Inc..
  10. Wainwright, "Seshat and the Pharaoh," p. 35.
  11. Magdolen, "Sign of Seshat - Part Three," p. 67.
  12. Asante, ''Encyclopedia of African Religion'', p. 609.
  13. Magdolen, Dušan. (2009). "A New Investigation of the Symbol of Ancient Egyptian Goddess Seshat". Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences.
  14. (2009). "In Search of Cosmic Order: Selected Essays on Egyptian Archaeoastronomy". Supreme Council of Antiquities Press.
  15. Belmonte, "Unveiling Seshat," pp. 203-210.
  16. Magdolen, "Sign of Seshat - Part Three," p. 72.
  17. Belmonte, "Unveiling Seshat," pp. 200-201.
  18. Asante, ''Encyclopedia of African Religion'', p. 660.
  19. Bunson, ''Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt'', p. 152.
  20. Gardiner, Alan. (1938). "The House of Life". The Egypt Exploration Fund.
  21. Smith, William Stevenson. (March 1963). "The Stela of Wepemnofret". Archaeology Magazine.
  22. (1927). "Egyptian Grammar: Being An Introduction to the Study of Hieroglyphs". Griffith Institute.
  23. Magdolen, "Sign of Seshat - Part Three," pp. 62–63.
  24. Magdolen, "Sign of Seshat - Part Three," pp. 64–65.
  25. Budge, E. A. Wallis. (1920). "An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary". John Murray.
  26. Including '''Safkhet''', '''Sesat''', '''Seshet''', '''Sesheta''', and '''Seshata'''.
  27. Also spelled '''Sefkhet-Abut''', '''Sefkhet-Abwi''', and '''Sefekhet-Abuy'''.
  28. The [[Egyptian Hieroglyphs (Unicode block). Unicode]] font reads left-to-right; the Palermo Stone was written right-to-left. On the stone, a large [[renpet]] (or palm rib), the hieroglyph for year, precedes this selection.

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