Wadjet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wadjet |
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An illustration of Wadjet based on depictions in tombs.
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| Major cult center | Buto |
| Symbol | Egyptian cobra |
Wadjet ( Ancient Egyptian: wꜢḏyt "Green One") was an important ancient Egyptian goddess. She was also known as Uto ( Koinē Greek: Οὐτώ) or Buto ( Βουτώ). Wadjet was first the local goddess of a city called Dep. This city later became known as Per-Wadjet ("House of Wadjet") by Egyptians and Buto by Greeks. It was a very old and important place in Egypt.
Wadjet was seen as the protector of Lower Egypt. When Lower Egypt joined with Upper Egypt, she became a protector of all of Egypt. Her image with the sun disk is called the uraeus. This symbol was worn on the crowns of the rulers of Lower Egypt. Wadjet also protected kings and women giving birth. People believed she was the nurse for the baby god Horus. She helped his mother Isis protect Horus from his tricky uncle, Set. They hid in the swamps of the Nile Delta to stay safe.
In ancient Egyptian beliefs, Wadjet was strongly connected to the Eye of Ra. This was a powerful symbol of protection. The hieroglyph for her eye is shown below. Sometimes, two of these eyes appear in the sky in religious pictures. The city of Per-Wadjet also had a special place for Horus. He was the child of the sun god and was seen as representing the pharaoh. Later, Wadjet was also linked to Isis and other gods.
On the wall of the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor, you can see two images of Wadjet. One shows her as the uraeus with her head through an ankh symbol. The other shows her in front of a Horus hawk wearing the pschent crown. This shows she protected the pharaoh.
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Understanding Wadjet's Appearance
As a protector goddess, Wadjet was linked to the land of Egypt. She was often shown as a woman with the head of a snake. Sometimes she was shown as a full snake, usually an Egyptian cobra. This is a venomous snake common in Egypt. She could also appear as a woman with two snake heads, or a snake with a woman's head.
Her special temple in Per-Wadjet was famous. It was where people went to ask her for advice. This tradition of asking for advice might have spread from Egypt to Greece.
The Egyptian word wꜣḏ means blue and green. It is also the name for the "Eye of the Moon." Later, Wadjet was often shown as a woman with a snake's head. She might also wear the uraeus on her head. The uraeus was originally her body, wrapped around the head of the pharaoh or another god.
Wadjet was often shown as a cobra. As a protector, she was sometimes seen coiled on the head of Ra, the sun god. This image of her became the uraeus symbol used on royal crowns. It showed she protected the king.
Another old image of Wadjet shows a cobra wrapped around a papyrus stem. This image dates back to before 3100 B.C. It is thought to be the first picture of a snake wrapped around a staff. This sacred image appeared many times in later myths around the Mediterranean Sea. It is similar to the caduceus symbol.
Her image also appears on the staffs used to show gods in hieroglyphs. You can see her rearing up from the staff in the hieroglyph for "uraeus" and "goddess."
The Meaning Behind Wadjet's Name
The name Wadjet comes from the word for the symbol of her region, Lower Egypt, which was the papyrus plant. The hieroglyphs for her name are very similar to those for the Green Crown of Lower Egypt. The only difference is a small picture at the end. For the crown, it's a picture of the crown. For the goddess, it's a picture of a rearing cobra.
Wadjet: Protector of Egypt and Pharaohs
Over time, Wadjet became known as the protector goddess of all of Lower Egypt. She was linked with Nekhbet, who was shown as a white vulture. Nekhbet protected Upper Egypt. After Egypt became one country, the image of Nekhbet joined Wadjet on the crown. They were then shown together as part of the uraeus. These two goddesses, who protected the whole country, were called the Two Ladies.
Wadjet was connected to the Nile Delta area. She was seen as a goddess of the living world. She was also closely linked to the pharaohs as a protective deity. Like other goddesses, she was called an "eye of Ra." Wadjet was often shown as an upright cobra with its hood spread out, ready to strike. Sometimes she wore the Red Crown of Lower Egypt. Wadjet was often seen in her cobra form next to Nekhbet, who was in her vulture form. Nekhbet would wear the White Crown of Upper Egypt. You can see them together on wall paintings or on the pharaoh's headdress.
Wadjet, as the goddess of Lower Egypt, had a large temple at the ancient city of Imet (now Tell Nebesha). She was worshipped there as the "Lady of Imet." Later, she joined Min and Horus to form a group of three important gods.
Other Connections
A mountain on the planet Venus, called Nazit Mons, is named after Nazit. Nazit was an "Egyptian winged serpent goddess." Some believe Nazit's Greek name was Buto, which is another name for Wadjet.
Gallery
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Two images of Wadjet appear on this carved wall in the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Luxor.
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Wadjet painted on a coffin wearing the Atef crown
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Wadjet depicted alongside Nekhbet on a block from the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut
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Wadjet in the form of a lioness, in the name of Akanosh son of Pediamenopet, Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Wadjet (left) and Nekhbet (right) crowning Ptolemy VIII, Temple of Edfu
See also
In Spanish: Uadyet para niños
- Eye of Horusca:Llista de personatges de la mitologia egípcia#W
