Serqet, also known under various names such as Selket and Selqet, was an ancient Egyptian goddess revered primarily for her protective abilities, yet she possessed a more sinister aspect as well. She was believed to wield authority over dangerous creatures like venomous snakes and scorpions, similar to other deities such as Meretseger and Isis. It was a common belief that Serqet could shield individuals from poisonous bites, while simultaneously having the capacity to unleash snakes and scorpions as punishment upon those she deemed unworthy.
Originally, Serqet was worshiped in the Nile Delta, but as her following grew, she gained prominence throughout Egypt, with notable cult centers emerging in places like Djeba (Edfu) and Per-Serqet (Pselkis, el Dakka). Interestingly, archeologists have yet to discover any dedicated temples for her worship.
In different accounts of mythology, Serqet is suggested to have played a role in safeguarding Isis and her young son Horus as they sought refuge from Set in the marshlands. She is linked to seven scorpions serving as protectors for the pair and is occasionally credited with persuading Ra to halt his solar journey and provide aid when Horus was poisoned by a serpent sent by Set. Consequently, she became regarded as a protector for children and expectant mothers against venomous threats.
In her protective role, Serqet also accompanied Ra on his nightly journey through the underworld. She was tasked with overseeing treacherous pathways and was vital in restraining the serpent Apep, ensuring the safe passage of the sun god’s barque from attacks. This guardianship extended to all souls navigating the challenging terrain of the afterlife.
An impressive depiction of Serqet can be found in the tomb of Nefertari, where she greets the queen into the afterlife, proclaiming her identity as “Serqet, mistress of heaven and lady of all the gods,” and acknowledges Nefertari’s esteemed status, welcoming her into a sacred space akin to the glory of Ra in the heavens.
Like other goddesses known as the “Eye of Ra,” Serqet is often regarded as either Ra’s mother or daughter, embodying the intense heat of the sun. She bore titles such as “Lady of the Beautiful Tent” and “Mistress of the Beautiful House,” which refers to the embalming process. Furthermore, she provided guardianship to Qebehsenuef, one of the sons of Horus responsible for protecting the intestines of the deceased.
Her association with the western cardinal point links her to themes of death and rebirth while also highlighting her connection to the vital breath of life. Enemies of Serqet might find themselves deprived of breath due to a venomous sting, yet she granted the justified deceased a new breath in the afterlife. The Book of the Dead correlates her with the teeth of the departed, and her name is sometimes interpreted as “She Who Lets Throats Breathe” or “she who stiffens (paralyzes) the throat.”
The Pyramid Texts mention that she was the mother of Nehebkau, the snake deity who safeguarded the pharaoh against snakebites. Serqet is closely linked to Isis and Nephthys due to her associations with magic and the underworld. In some mythology, she is characterized as the wife of Horus and the mother of Horakhty.
Often depicted as a woman adorned with a scorpion atop her head, Serqet occasionally appeared in a more unconventional form as a scorpion with a female visage. She sometimes donned the headdress of Hathor, identified by a solar disk and cow horns, which indicates her ties to Isis. In representations from the Twenty-First Dynasty, she might be shown with a lioness head, complemented by a protective crocodile at her neck’s rear. Among the most notable representations of Serqet is the golden figure found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, one of the four goddesses designated to protect him in the afterlife.
