Werethekau

A relief representing Weret-hekau. From the reign of Ramesses II

Werethekau, alts. Urthekau and Weret Hekau, was the ancient Egyptian personification of supernatural powers, weret hekau meaning "great of magic" or "great enchantress".[1]

In myth

As a deity dedicated to protection, she often appeared on funerary objects, particularly weapons, to allow the deceased to protect him or herself against the dangers of the underworld. She also was placed on ivory knives as a charm to protect pregnant and nursing mothers.

Her power was one of the inherent qualities of the Crowns of Egypt. As goddess of the crowns she was a snake or a lion-headed woman and dwelt in the state sanctuary.[2] As the wife of Ra-Horakhty she is depicted with his solar disk on her head. Werethekau was an epithet frequently conferred on Isis,[3]Sekhmet,[4] Mut,[5] and others.

References

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  1. ↑ Barbara S. Lesko, The great goddesses of Egypt, University of Oklahoma Press, 1999, p 74
  2. ↑ Manfred Lurker, The Routledge Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and Demons, Routledge 2004, ISBN 0-415-34018-7, p.192
  3. ↑ Lurker, op.cit., p.192
  4. ↑ Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many, Cornell University Press 1996, ISBN 0-8014-8384-0, p.284
  5. ↑ Carol A. R. Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, University of Texas Press 1994, ISBN 0-292-70464-X, p.37