Wadjet, known by various names such as Wadjyt, Wadjit, Uto, Uatchet, Edjo, and Buto, stands as one of the earliest goddesses in ancient Egyptian mythology. Her veneration can be traced back to the Predynastic Period, although her role and significance evolved over time. Initially, she was a local deity of Per-Wadjet (Buto) but gradually ascended to become a protector of Lower Egypt. By the conclusion of the Predynastic Period, Wadjet transcended her identity as an individual goddess, often symbolizing Lower Egypt and frequently depicted alongside her sister Nekhbet, who embodied Upper Egypt. Together, they represented the unified state of Egypt, famously depicted in the “nebty,” a name indicating the pharaoh’s dominion over both regions. The earliest recorded instance of this title appears from the reign of Anedjib in the First Dynasty.
In the ancient Pyramid Texts, it is suggested that Wadjet played a role in the genesis of the first papyrus plant and the primordial marshlands. Her association with papyrus is affirmed through the use of its glyph to represent her name, and this plant symbolized Lower Egypt’s identity. Another narrative positions Wadjet as the daughter of Atum, or alternately Ra, dispatched as his “eye” to locate Tefnut (moisture) and Shu (air), who had become lost in the waters of Nun. Upon their return, Ra was so overjoyed that he wept, his tears giving birth to the first humans. To acknowledge her loyalty, he fashioned her likeness as a cobra to rest upon his head as a protective symbol.
Wadjet was among the deities recognized as the “Eye of Ra,” linking her with other goddesses such as Bast, Hathor, Sekhmet, and Tefnut. The emblematic “Eye of Ra” was often referred to as the “Wedjat.” In this aspect, she sought vengeance for her father, nearly leading to humanity’s annihilation until she was diverted by a scheme involving beer colored with pomegranate juice to mimic blood.
Additionally, Wadjet is often connected with the principle of Ma’at, symbolizing justice and equilibrium. A notable myth involves Geb assaulting his mother Tefnut; as Geb attempted to assume the kingship with the Royal Ureas on his brow, Wadjet, in snake form, retaliated against him and his entourage, as they were deemed transgressors of Ma’at. This narrative paints Wadjet as a fierce deity, contrasting with her sister, Nekhbet, who was seen as nurturing.
Despite her fierce demeanor, Wadjet possessed a gentler side, having assisted Isis in nurturing young Horus while concealing them from Set amid the delta marshes. She was also seen as a protective force for women during childbirth. Moreover, Wadjet, alongside Nekhbet, safeguarded adult Horus from Set’s followers. As Horus chased them in the guise of a winged sun disc, his sisters flanked him as crowned serpents. This protective influence extended to pharaohs who bore the Royal Ureas on their forehead, a tribute to both serpentine deities. From the Eighteenth Dynasty onward, queens incorporated snake motifs into their headdresses as symbols of Wadjet and her sister.
Wadjet was associated with significant periods in the Egyptian calendar, notably the fifth hour of the fifth day, and the harvest month “iput-hmt” (Epipi). Her festivals occurred on notable dates, such as the 10th of “rh-wr” (Mekhir), celebrated as “the day of going forth of the Goddess,” and on the 7th and 8th of “khnty-khty” (Payni) and “Wpt-rnpt” (Mesori) respectively, aligning with the winter and spring solstices.
Her principal temple, the Temple of Wadjet at “Pe-Dep,” had already been established during the Old Kingdom and was referenced in the Pyramid Texts. This temple linked her closely with Horus. Wadjet was often described as Hapi’s consort in Lower Egypt and had ties to Set, embodying aspects of Lower Egypt. Occasionally, she was also referred to as Ptah’s wife and mother to Nefertem, likely due to her connections with Sekhmet’s lion form.
Her sacred animal was the cobra, and Wadjet was depicted variably as a rearing or winged cobra, or as a woman’s figure crowned with a cobra’s head. She commonly appeared alongside Nekhbet, who was portrayed as either a woman or a serpent. By the Late Period, Wadjet garnered associations with the ichneumon, a mongoose-like creature revered for its snake-hunting skills and sacredness to Horus. Mummified ichneumons and shrews were found interred with statues of Wadjet, symbolizing the cycle of day and night. Furthermore, she was worshipped as a vulture goddess and manifested as a lion-headed woman adorned with a solar disk and the Uraeus cobra in her “Eye of Ra” depiction.
