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SEKHMET One of the most powerful and ancient deities whose cult centre was at Memphis, the lion-headed solar goddess was both fierce avenger and protectress of living and dead, especially the pharaoh. Statues of her stood in the Treasure Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun, with a blue faience tear as she wept for the young king She was goddess of both war and healing and doctors practised in her name. She is sometimes called the eye of Ra warrior, her father. In the Afterlife, her protective role is predominant and in one ancient text, often placed on inscriptions of her statues, she says: ‘I am the ardent heat of the fire that put a million cubits between Osiris and his enemies.’ Because of this, she also guards the blessed Dead, protected by Osiris. Known also as a lady of magic, especially magical healing and protection, her best-known statue is in a small temple in the enclosure of Amun at Karnak. When the full moon shines it casts a shaft of pure light upon the statue, making it seem as though she is alive.
Frequently Sekhmet is pictured with the sun
disk on her head and the sacred cobra, protectress of the Pharaohs on her
brow. She also takes the form sometimes of a lioness. In her lion-headed
form she carries an ankh or sistrum. Her colours are red and gold.
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