Seshat, whose name means “female scribe,” was a goddess of writing, wisdom, and knowledge. Often considered the female counterpart of Thoth, as mother or daughter, she was associated with many of the sciences, including architecture, astronomy, geometry, and more. Some stories suggest that it was actually Seshat who invented writing, and Thoth only taught it to mankind. Her role in writing and record keeping gave her female priestesses important roles in the Egyptian administration.
An Ancient Goddess
The goddess has ancient origins, with evidence of her veneration as early as the 1st Dynasty, and she is mentioned in the Royal Annals of the Old Kingdom. In an early depiction from the 2nd Dynasty, she is shown performing surveying work, confirming her connection with architecture. She was sometimes called the “Lady of the Builders.” From the Middle Kingdom onwards, she became more commonly known as Sefkhet-Abwy.
Connections and Responsibilities
Often depicted in her role as a surveyor, this not only linked the goddess to architecture. In particular, when temples were built or expanded, she conducted the “stretching of the cord” ritual to pay the foundations for the important new structure, pulling on the cord with the pharaoh at the other end. It was also when constructions like the pyramids were aligned with the stars.
As a surveyor, she was also important in establishing the boundaries of the land, and therefore order, especially after the annual flood. It seems that female priestesses of Seshat were employed to help the early pharaohs with this task.
As a goddess of writing, she and her priestesses were also responsible for recording speeches made by the pharaoh, especially during his crowning ceremony. She was also called the “Mistress of Scribes” and the “Lady of Books.” She was probably linked with the House of Life, a place where scribes were trained.
Seshat priestesses also recorded the loot from military campaigns, the cattle census, and foreign tributes, giving the goddess and her priestesses an essential role in administration.
As a recorder of the accomplishments of the kings, it may be no surprise that she featured in the Sed Festival that typically celebrated 30 years of a reign, at least from the New Kingdom onwards. She is often depicted alongside Thoth recording the king’s jubilees and regnal years.
Despite her importance, Seshat does not seem to have received widespread popular worship and was mostly associated with and venerated alongside the pharaoh. This makes her seem almost like a divine aspect, quality, or skill possessed by the Pharaoh.
Appearance and Symbols
She appeared as a woman with a seven-pointed emblem above her head or extending from a headband. This was the origin of her alternative name, which means “seven-horned.” It is unclear what it represented, but it may have been a surveying tool.
She often appeared with a notched palm stick, which predated writing, again reflecting her ancient origins. This represents the year in hieroglyphics, linking her to astronomy, dating, and record keeping. The stem of the stick often ended in a tadpole above a shen ring, representing 100,000 and infinity, respectively. Seshat was also often depicted wearing a leopard skin, which was linked with funerary priests, with the pattern on the hide thought to represent the stars. She appeared in funerary contexts, where she was often depicted along with Nephthys restoring the limbs of the deceased. It may suggest that her role in administration and order extended into the afterlife.
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