Sekhmet 5

Seti I and Ramesses the Great worshipped the lion goddess Sekhmet. There were many smaller cults dedicated to Sekhmet, including one centered around the funerary monument of King Sahur. The cult enjoyed its own clergy and prophets and was known for healing miracles and divine visions. Sekhmet's priests were skilled physicians, possibly even in veterinary medicine. They made offerings before different statues of Sekhmet each day. Many of her statues were protected and coated with infectious powder. The ancient Egyptians believed in the seven arrows of Sekhmet, which brought bad luck, so they used charms and spells for protection. On the last day of the year, priests chanted a book while wearing a cloth on their heads to avert Sekhmet's attack. Sekhmet was seen as brutal and represented natural disasters. The people exchanged amulets in the form of Sekhmet on the first day of the new year to keep her happy. Egyptian magic was mainly used Seti I and Ramesses the Great from 19th dynasty were also devoted to the lion goddess. Sekhmet enjoyed many smaller local cults, best known of which is the cult of the Sekhmet of Sahur, centered around the funerary monument of 5th dynasty king Sahur. The cult was still booming in the 18th dynasty, enjoying its own clergy and prophets around a site famous for healing miracles, answered prayers and divine visions. Sekhmet's priests were the best physicians in ancient Egypt, well known and beloved. There is also evidence that they may have been skilled in veterinary medicine. Her priests were said to make offerings before a different statue of her each day of the year. Because of Sekhmet's aggressive nature, it is said many of her statues were protected. So it's said that there were so many statues made of her but so many still in existence because she was so feared so nobody ever wanted to kind of ruin or damage one. Not only that, this and the fact that many of her statues would be coated with anthrax or other highly infectious bacterial powder to ensure they were not disturbed. Her name is found on countless healing steles, so these are upright stone slabs and amulets and medical papyri containing healing techniques and spells. Priests recited complex prayers to avert Sekhmet's rage. The ancient Egyptians believed that the seven arrows of Sekhmet would bring bad luck so they used many charms and spells to protect themselves. There was a book of the last day of the year that priests would chant while wearing a piece of cloth around their head. The last day of the year was considered a dangerous period as it was considered a time that Sekhmet would attack. Her reputation at her worst was brutal, bloodthirsty, out of control and she represented natural disasters. So we will get more into the seven arrows of Sekhmet so bear with me on that. So these are some of the words, like chants, incantations that have been found. Oh Sekhmet the fiery eye who is Ra's beloved daughter, turn your arrows from me mighty mistress of slaughter. She who is adorned with crimson, be calmed with adoration. Lady of the water of life, be pacified with this cool libation. On the first day of the new year, Wep Rompet, people would exchange amulets in the form of Sekhmet to keep the goddess happy. So most of Egyptian magic was prophylactic, an attempt to forestall the untoward.