Rune Oracle

Egyptian goddess

Seshat

Goddess of writing, measuring and records

writingmeasurement and architecturerecord keepinglibrariesthe length of a reign

Also called Sesheta, Safekh-Aubi, Mistress of the House of Books.

Their story

Seshat was the goddess of writing and measurement, often shown as Thoth's female counterpart or companion. She wore a leopard skin and a headdress of a star or rosette beneath a curved bow, and she notched a palm rib to count the years of the king's reign. In the stretching the cord ceremony she and the king marked out the plan of a new temple with pegs and rope. She was also said to keep the libraries of the gods.

Best times to give to them

  • before writing or study
  • the laying of a foundation
  • Wepet Renpet

What they like being given

  • ink and a new pen
  • incense
  • water
  • bread

How to honour them

  1. Dedicate a notebook or journal to her.
  2. Ask her blessing before measuring out a garden, a room or a building.

How they can help you

  • writing
  • study and record keeping
  • planning and measuring
  • memory

Symbols

  • seven-pointed star or rosette beneath a bow
  • leopard skin robe
  • notched palm rib
  • reed pen

She had no known temple of her own and appears mainly in royal and temple reliefs.

Sources

  • Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt
  • Hart, The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

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