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[[Image:Seshat.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A modern digitised image of Seshat, reproduced from original reliefs. Note the unusual crown she wears. Debate continues as to it's precise meaning.]]

[[Image:Seshat.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A modern digitised image of Seshat, reproduced from original reliefs. Note the unusual crown she wears. Debate continues as to its precise meaning.]]

[[Image:SSAt.jpg|thumb|center|Name of Seshat written in hieroglyphs.]]

[[Image:SSAt.jpg|thumb|center|Name of Seshat written in hieroglyphs.]]

'''Seshat''' is an Egyptian goddess of writing and measuring. Her name literally translates as “The Female Scribe”. Seshat had no cult centre, nor any temples dedicated to her in [[Ancient Egypt]], yet was present in the foundation ceremony of all temples, as the one who assisted the [[Pharaoh]] in the Stretching of the Cord ceremony that marked the start of construction work on a new religious structure.

'''Seshat''' is an Egyptian goddess of writing and measuring. Her name literally translates as “The Female Scribe”. Seshat had no cult centre, nor any temples dedicated to her in [[Ancient Egypt]], yet was present in the foundation ceremony of all temples, as the one who assisted the [[Pharaoh]] in the Stretching of the Cord ceremony that marked the start of construction work on a new religious structure.

Seshat is the only female, human or divine, depicted in the act of writing. Her position as a divine scribe predated that of [[Thoth]], who later came to eclipse her, and even with his arrival she retained her exclusive title as being the “Foremost” in the House of Books. Whilst Thoth was served as scribe to [[Ra]], [[Amun]] and the other great and good of the Egyptian pantheon, Seshat was regarded as the maintainer of the libraries, records and accounts of the gods, and though her mostly [[Old Kingdom]] priests, their earthly counterparts. She was also responcible for recording the jubilees and reigns of the Pharaohs throughout Egyptian history. With her omnipresent yet elite status, present in official religion but never appearing in common or "folk" religious contexts, she bears a striking similarity to another goddess closely related to Thoth, [[Ma’at]].

Seshat is the only female, human or divine, depicted in the act of writing. Her position as a divine scribe predated that of [[Thoth]], who later came to eclipse her, and even with his arrival she retained her exclusive title as being the “Foremost” in the House of Books. Whilst Thoth was served as scribe to [[Ra]], [[Amun]] and the other great and good of the Egyptian pantheon, Seshat was regarded as the maintainer of the libraries, records and accounts of the gods, and though her mostly [[Old Kingdom]] priests, their earthly counterparts. She was also responsible for recording the jubilees and reigns of the Pharaohs throughout Egyptian history. With her omnipresent yet elite status, present in official religion but never appearing in common or "folk" religious contexts, she bears a striking similarity to another goddess closely related to Thoth, [[Ma’at]].

Seshat was very much a goddess of the state, tied in the to scribal profession, a bulkwark of Egyptian officaldom, where she is depicted being involved in the census (from the [[Old Kingdom]] onwards), recording of accounts, notation and all kinds of writing and recording. Her title as She Who is Foremost in the House of Books also gives her a role as patroness of libraries in general.

Seshat was very much a goddess of the state, tied in the to scribal profession, a bulkwark of Egyptian officialdom, where she is depicted being involved in the census (from the [[Old Kingdom]] onwards), recording of accounts, notation and all kinds of writing and recording. Her title as She Who is Foremost in the House of Books also gives her a role as patroness of libraries in general.

Seshat has an unusual crown and attire. The seven pointed figure surmounted by a downward curving line, with a notch at the top of the curve, has been variously interpreted as a papyrus plant (pointing to it’s obvious scribal associations) or a seven pointed star surmounted by a downward pointing object, possibly horns or a bow. This may be an earlier pre-dynastic divine or royal standard. This chracteristic and unusual sign was occassionaly used as as hieroglyph in the spelling of her name.

Seshat has an unusual crown and attire. The seven pointed figure surmounted by a downward curving line, with a notch at the top of the curve, has been variously interpreted as a papyrus plant (pointing to its obvious scribal associations) or a seven pointed star surmounted by a downward pointing object, possibly horns or a bow. This may be an earlier pre-dynastic divine or royal standard. This characteristic and unusual sign was occasionally used as hieroglyph in the spelling of her name.

Seshat is always depicted as a anthropomorphic female.

Seshat is always depicted as an anthropomorphic female.

As a goddess so heavily associated with the formal arts and professions of state, she doesn’t appear to have had much popular following amongst the commoners. However we do find a reference to there being a priesthood for the goddess, even though no individual cult centre is known to have existed. Prince Wep-em-Nefret, from 4th Dynasty the reign of [[Khufu]], records on his funerary stela found at Giza that he was a priest of Seshat as well as Overseer of Royal Scribes. This may imply that amongst scribes and architects Seshat enjoyed a “patroness” like status, giving her a degree of public worship in addition to a formal priesthood.  

As a goddess so heavily associated with the formal arts and professions of state, she doesn’t appear to have had much popular following amongst the commoners. However we do find a reference to there being a priesthood for the goddess, even though no individual cult centre is known to have existed. Prince Wep-em-Nefret, from 4th Dynasty the reign of [[Khufu]], records on his funerary stela found at Giza that he was a priest of Seshat as well as Overseer of Royal Scribes. This may imply that amongst scribes and architects Seshat enjoyed a “patroness” like status, giving her a degree of public worship in addition to a formal priesthood.  

On the other hand it is also possible that certain scribes held the title “Priest of Seshat” in the same way that judges were considered “Priests of Ma’at”, in that in performing their duties there were honouring the goddess, as opposed to being priests in the literal sense of the term. Although most scholars today believe she did enjoy a formal priesthood, there are no known temples dedicated to her. She is, however, particularly prominent at Abydos, and a particularly beautiful and well known depiction of her can be found in Luxor temple. As such, a dedicated temple of her own may well have been seen as somewhat redundant, given her role in the founding ceremonies of all of them.

On the other hand, it is also possible that certain scribes held the title “Priest of Seshat” in the same way that judges were considered “Priests of Ma’at”, in that in performing their duties there were honouring the goddess, as opposed to being priests in the literal sense of the term. Although most scholars today believe she did enjoy a formal priesthood, there are no known temples dedicated to her. She is, however, particularly prominent at Abydos, and a particularly beautiful and well known depiction of her can be found in Luxor temple. As such, a dedicated temple of her own may well have been seen as somewhat redundant, given her role in the founding ceremonies of all of them.

[[Category:Ancient Egypt]]

[[Category:Ancient Egypt]]

[[Category:Egyptian Mythology]

[[Category:Egyptian Mythology]]