God Set, the intricate deity of ancient Egypt, serves as a reminder that within the cosmic order, even chaos played a vital role in shaping the balance of existence.
God Set holds a unique and enigmatic place in the pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods. Often depicted as a complex deity associated with chaos, storms, and desert landscapes, Set has intrigued scholars and enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will explore the fascinating mythology, symbolism, and historical significance of Set, shedding light on this intriguing figure from ancient Egypt.
Who was God Set?
Set was the ancient Egyptian god of chaos and represented everything that threatened harmony in the nation. He was the brother and husband of Nephthys and the brother of Isis and Osiris.
A powerful representation of God Set
The Meaning and Significance of Set’s Mysterious Name
As with many Egyptian deities, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the meaning of Set’s name. Set’s name may have meant something to the effect of “he who is below” on the basis that Set was Horus’s opposite. Note that Horus’s name likely meant “he who is above.”
Origin Myth of God Set
Unlike his siblings, Set did not have a traditional birth. In some tales, he tore himself from Nut’s womb; in others, his mother spat him into existence. In either case, his unconventional birth was thought to foreshadow his representation of disorder and chaos.
Set God Family
Set was born to the earth and sky gods Geb and Nut. His siblings included Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys. His grandfather was the sun god Ra.
Set took his sister, Nephthys, as his wife. Having formed a connection in the womb, the two were married before they were born.
A key element of Set’s mythology was his unrelenting jealousy of his elder brother, Osiris. Some of this jealousy may have been warranted because His wife eventually bore an illegitimate child with Osiris.
God Set’s Representation
Exploring God Set’s artistic portrayal
Usually, Set was depicted as a man with the head of an animal that was known as a “Set animal” and had a tall nose, rectangular ears, and a thin canine body with a long, forked tail. The body of this animal had fur tufts that were shaped like inverted arrows. Most images of Set show him holding an ankh in one hand and a staff in another. The staff was a long staff that had the head of a Seth animal on top and was forked at the bottom.
God Set was also illustrated as different animals like the antelope, the boar, the ass, and the crocodile. He was also associated with some poisonous creatures like the scorpion, snakes, and sometimes a hippopotamus.
Set God was the personification of drought, and as lord of the desert and the drought, he was an opponent of everything that bore life. Egyptians also knew him as the god of war and storms.
God Set was linked with the planet Mercury and the color red. The people thus hated people with red skin and even killed animals with red fur because they thought they were related to Seth and his influence.
The Good Side of God Set
In the Early Dynastic Period of Egypt (3150-2613 BCE), Set was a critical and benevolent god of Upper Egypt. People invoked his name for love spells and inscribed them on amulets that served as love charms. Moreover, Set also saved the sun god Ra from the serpent Apophis. The snake was an evil creature who tried to stop the sun god Ras’s journey through the night sky towards morning.
Unearthing the benevolent aspect of God Set
God Set and Osiris
As the eldest sibling among the first five gods, Osiris was the rightful ruler of creation. He reigned as Pharaoh, bringing agriculture and civilization to the people of Egypt, and, in general, was seen as a wise and benevolent ruler. God Set was jealous of his brother’s station and coveted the throne for himself. In some accounts, his jealousy was compounded by the betrayal of his own wife, Nephthys, who disguised herself as Osiris’ wife, Isis, to seduce the god-king and give birth to the jackal-headed Anubis.
Murder of God Osiris
Set hatched an evil plan to remove his elder brother. He crafted a beautiful casket to the measurements of Osiris. Later, he threw a grand party and said that the coffin would belong to whosoever fits in the chest. Osiris remained unknown in this plot and sat in the casket. Set then slammed the lid shut and threw the trunk into the Nile River.
In some stories, Set murdered Osiris with his 72 friends. However, some accounts claim that Set alone was responsible for the murder of Osiris. Also, another variation says that Set murdered Osiris in that casket. Others argue that Osiris died from suffocation in the river or the tree at Byblos.
Moreover, Set took the throne of Egypt. However, he lost the harmonious balance created by Isis and Osiris. Set was an unpredictable and chaotic pharaoh. He brought storms and droughts.
Thus, people turned to each other to survive. After that, Isis searched for her missing husband and brought him back to Egypt. However, Set tricked Nephthys into revealing the location of the body. He chopped the body of Osiris into several parts and threw them all across the land.
The Mythic Battle for Kingship: Horus vs. Set
When Osiris’s son Horus came of age, he decided to challenge set for what he regarded as his rightful throne. Depending on the myth, the two either engaged in a battle to decide who would rule or put the matter before a court presided over by Ra. Horus prevailed and was awarded the kingship.
Epic clash of Horus and Set
God Set Cult
His cult is believed to be the oldest in Egypt, and Set seems to have had plenty of mayhem attributed to him. Over time, the concept of Seth changed in Egypt as initially, he was known as a beneficial god who lived in the blessed realm. It’s said that at first, Egyptians prayed and worshipped Set so that he would take care of the dead family members, but over time, he became seen as much more evil. Nonetheless, Set continued to be worshipped for his power and ability to create chaos and violent force.
Exploring the God Set cult
Set God Death
A recurring element in Set’s myths was his single-minded determination to destroy Osiris’s body. No matter how often he failed, he would not stop until he completed his mission.
Despite his great strength, Set met his match when he attempted to steal Osiris’s body out from under the watchful eye of Anubis. While Set could steal Osiris’s corpse a few times, he was caught and punished severely each time. Anubis eventually tired of Set’s mischief and killed the evil god, flaying his skin and setting fire to his corpse. Wearing Set’s skin as a disguise, Anubis snuck into Set’s military camp and killed all of his followers.
God Set’s mythic death
Conclusion:
God Set remains one of ancient Egyptian mythology’s most intriguing and enigmatic gods. His duality, symbolism, and complex portrayal make him a captivating figure, challenging our understanding of the forces that shape the universe.
Set’s journey from a revered deity to a marginalized figure exemplifies the dynamic nature of religious beliefs and their transformation over time. Whether
