Wadjet – Lady of Flame; Lady of the North; Lady of Heaven; Queen of Holy Spirits
Wadjet is a cobra goddess. Originally the guardian of the ancient city of Buto in the Nile Delta, she did her job so well, everyone wanted her for their guardian, too. She became the matron of Lower (Northern) Egypt and eventually the pharaoh’s own special guardian goddess. Wadjet is the uraeus (“rearing cobra”) on the pharaoh’s crown.
Wadjet heals, protects, and punishes via the power of snake venom (but exponentially so as she has the powers of a goddess, rather than a plain snake). Her other weapons include heat and fire. She is invoked for protection from snakesand from poison deriving from any source. Wadjet protects devotees against enemies.
Wadjet assisted Isis when she was hiding in the Delta swamps with baby Horus and is sometimes considered Horus’ foster-mother.
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Udjat, Edjo, Buto
ORIGIN:
Egypt
MANIFESTATION:
Wadjet may appear as a cobra, a cobra with a woman’s head, or a woman with a lion’s head. She may also manifest as a huge, winged serpent wearing the Egyptian Crown of the North, or as a woman wearing that crown.
ICONOGRAPHY:
Wadjet is portrayed as an erect, rearing cobra poised to strike at the enemies of Pharaoh and Egypt.
ATTRIBUTE:
Her scepter is a stalk of papyrus with a snake twined around it, considered a talisman of strength and virility.
Spirit allies:
Her primary ally and constant companion is Nekhebet. Together they represent Upper and Lower Egypt. Wadjet is also sometimes considered the left Eye of Ra. She is closely associated with Isis, Horus, and Anubis.
ELEMENT
Fire
Plant:
Papyrus (the djet plant)
CREATURES:
Snakes, especially but not exclusively cobras; also lions and mongoose
Sacred site:
The center of her veneration was in Buto, an ancient city located in the Nile Delta, not far from modern Alexandria. Her shrine contained a famous oracle.
SEE ALSO:
- Anubis
- Asklepios
- Hermes
- Horus
- Isis
- Nekhbet
- Egyptian Mythology
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by :Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.