THE SHRINE OF
SEKHMET


Sekhmet is a lioness-Goddess, worshiped in Memphis as the wife of Ptah; created by Ra from the fire of his eyes as a creature of vengeance to punish mankind for his sins; later, became a peaceful protectress of the righteous. She was worshiped with Bast and Ra as a compound deity, Sekhmet-bast-ra, and was considered the consort of Ptah-seker-ausar. A fiery and destructive Egyptian goddess associated with war and divine vengeance. Her name means "the Mighty One" and she was depicted as a woman with the head of a lioness. Her main center of worship was the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis. It was there that she was worshipped as a member of a divine triad with her husband Ptah and her son Nefertem. She was also worshipped in Luxor. According to a tale known as "The Destruction of Mankind" Sakhmet was the "Eye of Re", a vengeful aspect of the usually benevolent goddess Hathor. The sun god Re sent Sakhmet to slay mortals who were plotting against him. Sakhmet became so enthusiastic about her task that she nearly slew all of humanity. Re prevented this by tricking her into drinking vast quantities of beer which had been colored to look like blood. The intoxicated goddess had to abandon the slaughter and humanity was saved. As goddess of war Sakhmet was often said to accompany Pharaoh into battle. The King at war was described as being like Sakhmet in her fury, and the goddess aided him by shooting arrows at his enemies. She was also the "Lady of Pestilence" who could send plague and disease. She was also revered as a healer of these ailments, a role which seems paradoxical in such a bloodthirsty deity. The Goddess Sekhmet is the daughter of Ra, God of the Sun. She is usually depicted with the head of a lioness, and is identified with the blazing heat of summer and the desert. She has charge of the blazing Eye of Ra, which may be sent against evildoers and others who act against the right order of Ma'at. She is sometimes identified as the other face of Hathor. Hathor is the Goddess of Love and Beauty, and of women's toilet, and her fires are those of the heart. Sekhmet's fires are those of rage and destruction, especially versus injustice against women or the Gods. Sekhmet is also sometimes associated with Bast, as both are felinoid Goddesses. (Bast represents the warm Sun of springtime that brings regeneration and growth, where Sekhmet represents the searing heat of summer drought.) Sekhmet works closely with those who have been abused or hurt by other people. She can be invoked both to help process the pain and rage associated with the original injuries, and as a defender against further injury. She is also a Goddess into whose paws one can pass the execution of karmic justice, freeing oneself from the cycle of further involvement with the abusers. In ancient times, Lord Ra descended to Earth and lived among mankind, dispensing justice and teaching them to live harmony with the natural order of Ma'at. He had many children and grandchildren, but his favorites were Hathor and Sekhmet. Unlike Hathor, who was appeared to be a very beautiful human woman, Sekhmet carried with her the vital energies of the lions, and could take on the form of a golden-tawny lioness at will. She occasionally roamed the land in that form, seeing how mankind treated the animal folk, and bringing back reports to her father. As Ra aged, mankind grew weary of his strict rule and began to mutter and break the laws. They thought that Ra would never punish them, since he seemed to be more and more senile each day. Yet Ra, whose immortal spirit was ever aware, hoped in his heart that mankind would come to their senses. At last mankind went too far, and began to desecrate Ra's temples, and act in the most immoral ways they could. They continually broke the laws, and behaved in ways that made Ma'at weep. Ra could bear it no longer. He summoned his wild daughter, Sekhmet, and gave into her charge his bright, burning eye--which humans saw as the Sun, during the day. "My daughter," he said, "humanity has become a curse on the world. I am old and weak in this body, and cannot punish them as they deserve, but you can! Take my eye and teach them their lesson." Sekhmet took the burning eye, and changed into her lioness form to rage through the land. Many men and women were burnt up, crying out to Ma'at in sorrow for their sins. Sekhmet became dizzy with the smoke and drunk on the blood. She lost control and began to burn everything in her path. Those who still worshiped Ra and held to the laws of Ma'at had been afraid, but now they were terrified! They cried out to Ra for mercy and protection from the rage of his daughter. Ra saw that Sekhmet had become lost in her lioness self, and consulted with Thoth and Isis to find a way to stop her before she destroyed the world. The wise ones came up with a plan. Thoth prepared a great pit of beer, and Isis used her magic to make it appear to be a pool of blood. They lured Sekhmet to the trap with scents and signs that her lioness mind read as a great kill. Sekhmet began to drink from the pool, and became drunker and drunker. Eventually, she fell asleep and resumed her normal form. Ra realized that it was time for them to leave the world and return to the immortal realms. He turned the rule of mankind over to Osiris and Isis, and took Sekhmet home. When she awoke, she was horrified to learn of her excesses, and vowed henceforth to always control her rage. Yet she remains Ra's champion, and the avenger of Ma'at, for those who call on her for help.