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Seshat
Seshat (Ancient Egyptian: 𓋇𓏏𓁐, romanized: sšꜣt, lit. 'Female Scribe', 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.[citation needed] She became identified as the goddess of measurement, accounting, architecture, science, astronomy, mathematics, geometry, history and surveying. She was variously depicted as the consort, daughter, or female counterpart of Thoth, who was also associated with knowledge, astronomy, measurement, and writing.
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.
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.[citation needed]
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.
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] Seshat also appeared in funerary contexts, where, along with Nephthys, she restored the limbs of the deceased.
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Seshat
Seshat (Ancient Egyptian: 𓋇𓏏𓁐, romanized: sšꜣt, lit. 'Female Scribe', 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.[citation needed] She became identified as the goddess of measurement, accounting, architecture, science, astronomy, mathematics, geometry, history and surveying. She was variously depicted as the consort, daughter, or female counterpart of Thoth, who was also associated with knowledge, astronomy, measurement, and writing.
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.
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.[citation needed]
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.
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] Seshat also appeared in funerary contexts, where, along with Nephthys, she restored the limbs of the deceased.
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