Set (deity)

This article is about the Egyptian deity. For the third son of Adam and Eve, see Seth. For other uses, see Set (disambiguation) and Seth (disambiguation).
Set
Major cult centerOmbos, Avaris, Sepermeru
SymbolWas-sceptre, Set animal
Genealogy
ParentsGeb, Nut
SiblingsOsiris, Isis, Nephthys, Horus the Elder
ConsortNephthys, Neith, Anat, and Astarte
OffspringAnubis, Wepwawet,[1] Sobek[2] and Maga[3]
Equivalents
GreekTyphon

Set (/sɛt/; Egyptological: Sutekh - swtẖ ~ stẖ[a] or: Seth /sɛθ/) is a god of deserts, storms, disorder, violence, and foreigners in ancient Egyptian religion.[6]: 269  In Ancient Greek, the god's name is given as Sēth (Σήθ). Set had a positive role where he accompanies Ra on his barque to repel Apep (Apophis), the serpent of Chaos.[6]: 269  Set had a vital role as a reconciled combatant.[6]: 269  He was lord of the Red Land (desert), where he was the balance to Horus' role as lord of the Black Land (fertile land).[6]: 269 

In the Osiris myth, the most important Egyptian myth, Set is portrayed as the usurper who murdered and mutilated his own brother, Osiris. Osiris's sister-wife, Isis, reassembled his corpse and resurrected her dead brother-husband with the help of the goddess Nephthys. The resurrection lasted long enough to conceive his son and heir, Horus. Horus sought revenge upon Set, and many of the ancient Egyptian myths describe their conflicts.[7]

  1. ^ "Set". Mythopedia. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  2. ^ "Sobek from Ancient Egypt".
  3. ^ Ritner, Robert K. (1984). "A uterine amulet in the Oriental Institute collection". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 43 (3): 209–221. doi:10.1086/373080. PMID 16468192. S2CID 42701708.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sayce-nd-Hittites was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Budge-nd-HstEgy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Herman Te Velde (2001). "Seth". Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Vol. 3.
  7. ^ Strudwick, Helen (2006). The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-1-4351-4654-9.


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