Meretseger: Guardian of the Theban Necropolis
Meretseger, an esteemed deity dedicated to safeguarding the Valleys of the Kings and Queens in western Thebes, inhabited a pyramid-like desert mountain teeming with snakes—one of the portals to the Egyptian underworld. Her name, meaning “she who loves silence,” resonates perfectly with her role as a goddess of the isolated dead. The Theban hills, while providing an ideal resting place for royalty due to their tranquility, also harbored venomous snakes and scorpions that posed significant threats to the deceased and the artisans tasked with crafting their tombs. With no remedies available beyond magic and divine aid, it is no surprise that Meretseger emerged as a popular figure for worship seeking shelter from these menacing creatures. The faithful offered prayers to her, pleading for protection from snake and scorpion encounters.
The Symbolism of Meretseger
Meretseger, often termed the Peak of the West, was closely linked to the distinctive hill called el Qurn, “The Horn,” positioned on the West Bank of Luxor, Upper Egypt. This peak, a natural feature of the Theban mountainous region, offers a dramatic view of the Valley of the Kings, and its outline resembles that of a pyramid, solidifying its association with the Duat, Egypt’s underworld. This realm was not just a resting place for the blessed; it embodied chaos and danger, further underscoring the protective role of Meretseger against the serpents that plagued the area.
Representations of Meretseger typically depicted her as a coiled cobra, a snake-woman, or a woman-with-snake head, with some variations also showcasing a scorpion-headed figure. Given the prevalence of snakes and scorpions in her desolate domain, these forms were deemed fitting as symbols for the goddess. Artisans from the nearby village of Deir el-Medina created votive stelae honoring her, which served as spiritual shields, allowing them to carry on their vital work decorating royal tombs with a sense of divine protection.
Votive Offerings and Local Worship
Meretseger’s worship was most prevalent among Theban laborers. Although her cult saw recognition during the New Kingdom, it dwindled following the decline in royal burials at Thebes. Her adoration was primarily localized, with small rock temples, such as those near the Valley of the Queens, and stelae that immortalized the workers’ prayers and requests for absolution. Many stelae illustrate devotees kneeling before the goddess in gratitude for her favors.
For instance, the limestone stela of Amennakht features four cobras above a representation of Meretseger adorned with a solar disk and horns, symbolizing the Peak of the West. Amennakht is depicted in a kneeling position, conveying his reverence within what is represented as a sacred chapel, aligned with the two hills of the rock shrine dedicated to Ptah and Meretseger at Deir el-Medina.
Notably, the Turin Stela of Nekhtamun presents an unconventional vision of the peak. Gaston Maspero, a notable Egyptologist, depicted the hill as two converging slopes surrounding a parallelogram topped by coiled serpents. This piece honors Meretseger with praise, recognizing her role as a protective deity who extends her hand towards her true believers and shields them with affection.
The Nature of Divine Justice
Evidence suggests that local reverence for Meretseger was nearly as significant as that afforded to major deities like Osiris. Known for her swift retribution, she would deliver punishment upon tomb robbers with blinding or venomous attacks. However, her divine grace also allowed for redemption; she would heal transgressors who earnestly repented and sought her mercy, demonstrating her multifaceted role as a goddess of justice and compassion.
Prayers of Atonement
One of the finest examples of penitential offerings is the Stela of Neferabu. This inscription recounts how the artist Neferabu incurred Meretseger’s wrath and was blinded for his misdeeds. Upon his sincere appeal for forgiveness, she restored his sight, leading him to erect a stela to honor her power and to prompt others to heed her strength. His verses reflect a common sentiment of reverence and humility toward the goddess, acknowledging his previous ignorance and transgression.
Numerous inscriptions from other donors, such as Amennakht and Nekhtamun, echo a similar theme, emphasizing a mutual understanding: the supplicants’ awareness of their faults and a deep faith in Meretseger’s willingness to forgive. Each request for forgiveness serves to reinforce the gripping sense of insecurity that came from living amid the dangers posed by snakes and scorpions.
Decline of Worship
Despite her strong connections to the Valley of the Kings, Meretseger’s prominence was confined to Thebes, and she was never able to achieve a widespread following like other Egyptian deities. As the political and economic significance of Thebes waned during the later Ramessid period, so did the worship of Meretseger. With the advent of tomb robberies, documented across various ancient records, her guardianship came under scrutiny.
The abandonment of Thebes as the cultural heart of Egypt during the 21st dynasty led to a decline in the city’s necropolis usage, and, finally, the discontinuation of Meretseger’s veneration.
