The Divine Scribe: Seshat’s Role in Ancient Egyptian Culture
Seshat, recognized also as Sefkhet-Abwy and Seshet, holds the esteemed title of the Egyptian goddess of writing. Her name translates directly to “female scribe,” and she is commonly illustrated as a woman with a leopard skin draping her robe, adorned with a headdress featuring a seven-pointed star, framed by a crescent resembling a bow.
This representation is interpreted as a symbol of supreme authority, as in Egyptian myth and legend, wearing the skin of a vanquished foe imbues one with their power. The imagery of the stars correlates with the divine realm and its beings, while the number seven is emblematic of perfection and wholeness.
The leopard skin embodies her dominion over danger, symbolically representing protection against predators. The crescent above her head, seen as a bow, signifies either precision in archery or connects her to divine light similar to later depictions of saints illuminated by halos.
Seshat’s vast responsibilities encompassed record-keeping, accounting, measurements, maintaining libraries, overseeing census-taking, and acting as the protector of the House of Life—an ancient temple library and writer’s workshop. She is often depicted as closely linked to Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing.
First recorded during Egypt’s 2nd Dynasty (c. 2890- c. 2670 BCE) within the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150 – c. 2613 BCE), Seshat’s role involved aiding the king in the “stretching of the cord” ritual, a fundamental practice before temple construction.
Ancient Egyptians held the belief that earthly actions reflected in the divine domain. Mortal life was viewed as a segment of an ongoing eternal journey beyond death. Seshat was integral to the concept of immortal life granted to scribes through their writings. As authors penned tales, inscriptions, or books, these earthly creations gained an ethereal counterpart, archiving their works within the library of the gods.
There are depictions of Seshat assisting Nephthys in reviving the deceased during their judgment by Osiris, providing guidance in recognizing the spells from The Egyptian Book of the Dead, thus facilitating the soul’s transition towards the hoped-for paradise.
Aside from these tasks, Seshat was venerated as the goddess of exact measurements and all forms of the written word. Unlike the major deities in Egyptian mythology, she did not possess her own temples or formal worship practices. Nonetheless, given the significance of writing in Egyptian society and her essential role in construction and the afterlife, Seshat received widespread reverence through routine activities and daily rituals from the Early Dynastic Period to the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BCE). Although less recognized today compared to her contemporaries, she was a significant figure in her time.
Duties and Influence
In one mythological account, Thoth is said to have self-created at time’s inception and in his ibis form laid the primordial egg, which birthed creation. Though multiple versions exist concerning Thoth’s origin, they consistently highlight his extraordinary comprehension and the invaluable gift of writing bestowed upon humanity.
Worship of Thoth dates back to the Pre-Dynastic Period (c. 6000- c. 3150 BCE), when Egyptian writing was primarily pictorial before evolving into hieroglyphics. During this early phase, Thoth was recognized as a deity of wisdom, and it was he who was credited with the writing system after its development.
As Thoth accumulated numerous functions, the Egyptians assigned the oversight of writing to Seshat. Egyptologist Richard H. Wilkinson noted that reliefs and inscriptions from the Early Dynastic Period characterized her as a goddess of writing and measurements, illustrating Seshat’s prominence as a deity.
Seshat’s roles were numerous. As a record-keeper, she documented day-to-day events and, from the Middle Kingdom onward (c. 2613-c. 2181 BCE), chronicled wartime spoils, tracking both tribute owed and tribute received by the king. In the New Kingdom (c. 1570- c. 1069 BCE), her importance escalated as she recorded the length of kings’ reigns and their jubilee celebrations.
Seshat’s primary duty across all eras remained as the goddess of precision in measurements and the written word. Ancient Egyptians cherished meticulousness, especially in writing, as vital to their civilization.
Sacred Nature of Writing
In ancient Egypt, the written word was regarded as a sacred craft. The term hieroglyphics—meaning “sacred carvings”—derives from the Egyptian phrase medu-netjer, which translates to “the god’s words.” Thoth’s offering of writing was seen as a divine gift, obligating humanity to honor this craft through rigorous practice. Egyptologist Rosalie David has stated that the essence of writing was transformative, leading to a belief that inscribing concepts or events could invoke them into existence through magic.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead exemplifies this notion. Serving as a guide for the deceased navigating the afterlife, the spells contained within the tome are critical for avoiding hazards and reaching paradise. Accuracy in these spells was essential for their efficacy.
The Book of the Dead has its roots in the Pyramid Texts from the Old Kingdom, and evidence of the Egyptian commitment to writing is visible in the Offering Lists and Autobiographies found in tombs from the later part of the Early Dynastic Period. Writing became an everlasting medium, preserving the past and safeguarding it in a tangible format. As such, the dead were never fully gone; their stories and identities persisted in stone. The importance of these sacred inscriptions warranted entire sections within temples solely dedicated to the literary institution known as the House of Life.
The House of Life
The House of Life functioned as a multifaceted institution, comprising a library, a writer’s workshop, and a center for preserving sacred texts and knowledge. Referred to in Egyptian as Per-Ankh (“House of Life”), it is first recorded in Middle Kingdom inscriptions.
Located within temple complexes, the House of Life was overseen by Seshat and Thoth, regardless of the presiding deity. The gods were believed to inhabit their temples, analogous to hosting esteemed guests who manage valuable yet time-consuming affairs. Wilkinson highlights Seshat’s integral role in every temple’s foundation ceremony.
Research conducted at the House of Life encompassed medical, astronomical, and mathematical texts, crafted by leading scholars of the era. These institutions served not only as writing centers but also as academic discussion venues, housing priests and scribes who acted as the learned elite of their time.
Although the scribes were traditionally linked to Ra and later Osiris, evidence suggests that every considerable town likely boasted a House of Life, contrary to assumptions that only significant cities could support such an establishment.
The Role of Women as Scribes
Women in ancient Egypt experienced a degree of equality rare for the time, with evidence supporting that some were indeed scribes. Historical figures like Hatshepsut, Queen Nefertiti, and Queen Tiye were known to be literate, underlining the role of education in royal circles. Joy Tyldesley notes Seshat as the only female depicted actively writing, but others were shown with traditional scribal tools.
While the prevalence of female scribes remains debated, some claim that the absence of distinct “women’s literature” doesn’t discount their contributions to existing literary works. Despite the conservative nature of Egyptian society, notable female deities were revered and depicted positively within various narratives.
Seshat’s Foundational Role
Although Seshat lacked her own dedicated temples, her influence was foundational in constructing the temples, exemplified by her pivotal role during the “stretching of the cord” ceremony—a ritual crucial for determining the temple’s layout. The precision involved in aligning the temple through astronomical observation spoke to the significance of her responsibilities.
Seshat’s essential involvement ensured that not only did she aid in the buildings’ designs but also safeguarded their literary outputs within the House of Life, preserving her legacy through the ages. The ancient Egyptians revered Seshat, recognizing her as the goddess of writing and a critical supporter in the preservation of their cultural heritage.
Through her creative and preservative powers, Seshat embodied a vital force behind the endurance of Egyptian civilization and its continued significance throughout history.
