Seshat – Goddess of Scribes
Seshat is the ancient Egyptian word for “she who scrivens” or “female scribe” and yet, she was an important figure in the ancient Egyptian pantheon despite her lack of a personal name. She was credited with the invention of writing and soon became the goddess not only of writing, but also architecture, astronomy, astrology, building, mathematics, and surveying. Later, she became known as the goddess of history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seshat).
Seshat is often depicted as a woman with a headdress representing her hieroglyph, a seven-pointed star or flower capped with an archery bow. The star could also symbolize the papyrus plant, which provided the pith to create papyrus scrolls used throughout ancient Egyptian history. Another theory is that the star is in actuality the cannabis plant, which produced the hemp used in cordage and in medicines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seshat). The archery bow is somewhat problematic. It could represent a bow, but could also have been a warped form of two cobras or even the crescent moon, linking her to her consort, the lunar deity, Thoth. She is often cloaked in a leopard skin, reserved usually for stm or funerary priests. The leopard skin was prized in ancient Egypt for its spots; they believed the spots represented the stars of heaven. When not wearing the leopard-skin cloak, Seshat’s dress is covered in leopard spots, again recalling the stars (http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/seshat.htm).
There are many tools associated with Seshat, many of which she is portrayed as carrying. The most common tools she possesses are her scribal tools, the pen and the palette. While other goddesses have been portrayed with these tools, Seshat is the only female to be portrayed actually using the scribal pen and palette. Another tool she possesses and which she is commonly portrayed holding is a palm stem on which she records the number of days the pharaoh will live (http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/seshat.html). She is also occasionally depicted holding a surveying cord. It was with this cord she assisted the pharaoh in the positioning of a new temple. Seshat would hold the cord steady to the north, while the pharaoh to the south of her position, would gaze at the north star over Seshat’s headdress to ascertain the correct north-south position. This ceremony was known as the Pedjeshes from the ancient Egyptian words Pedj “to stretch” and Shes “a cord” (http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/seshat.htm).
By the New Kingdom, Thoth’s lunar association had grown and Seshat was raised in elevation from simply counterpart to Thoth to Thoth’s consort and daughter. Their link had stretched back as early as the Second Dynasty when the belief that Seshat had invented writing began. Seshat may have invented writing, but it was Thoth who taught writing to men. Along with her title of Female Scribe, Seshat was also known as “Mistress of the House of Books,” and “Mistress of the House of Architects.” (http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/seshat.html).
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Hi,I really like your pics of seshat.I hope you like my coments.I even like all of this writing.
Nice article, I look forward to exploring the site more. What’s the chances of Seshat being the original Isis? Is this commonly accepted? The myths tell us that Thoth was the father of Isis so it is understandable why there was such a close connection.
The pen truly is mightier than the sword.
I have not seen anything as of yet that could point to Seshat being the original Isis. Much is written about the similarities between Isis and Hathor, but nothing I have found yet to draw parallels between Isis and Seshat. That is a very interesting idea. I would like to see more written on the subject. What research have you done?