The Divine Women Ruling the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon: Meet the Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

My newest print features 15 of the major goddesses of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, shown with their modern names, and their names in the ancient Egyptian language. Though this is my creation, the figures are based on those found in tomb paintings and papyrus from a range of periods.

Let's meet them.

Bastet bꜢst

The feline goddess of home, fertility, and music

Bastet is an ancient Egyptian goddess revered as the protector of the home and family, as well as the goddess of fertility, music, and dance. Initially depicted as a lioness or a woman with the head of a lioness, her image later transitioned to that of a domestic cat, reflecting her dual nature as both fierce and nurturing. Bastet was worshipped for her ability to bring joy, protect against evil spirits, and safeguard the household. Her primary cult centre was in the city of Bubastis, where grand festivals and elaborate ceremonies celebrated her with music, dancing, and feasting, highlighting her significance in daily and religious life.

Hathor ḥwt-ḥr

The cow-headed goddess of love, beauty, and motherhood

Hathor was one of Egypt’s earliest goddesses and was worshipped as the divine representation of protection, motherhood, queenship, music, dance, joy, love and sexuality. She was the daughter of Ra, the all-powerful sun god, and wore a solar disk upon her head within a pair of bovine horns. In Egyptian, her name meant “House of Horus”, referring to her role as the wife of Horus, the sky god associated with kingship.

Heqet ḥqt

The frog-headed goddess of fertility and childbirth

Heqet is an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with fertility, childbirth, and rebirth, often depicted as a frog or a woman with a frog's head. Frogs were symbols of fertility due to their association with the annual flooding of the Nile, which brought life-giving water and renewal to the land. Heqet was believed to assist in childbirth, breathing life into newborns and protecting mothers during labour. Temples and amulets dedicated to Heqet were common, emphasising her role in ensuring safe births and new beginnings.

Imentet ỉmn.t-t

The goddess of the afterlife and renewal

Imentet was a goddess of the dead and was believed to have lived in a tree at the edge of the western desert overlooking the gates to the underworld. She met the souls of the recently deceased and offered them bread and water before ushering them into the realm of the dead. Her name means “She of the West” and her crown is the sign representing the West (a semi-circle on top of one long and one short pole) surmounted by a hawk.

Isis ꜣst

The goddess of magic, motherhood, and healing

Isis was a goddess of women, motherhood, fertility, and royal power. She was the sister of Nephthys and Seth, and the sister-wife of Osiris and mother to Horus. Isis played an important role in the resurrection of Osiris after his murder at the hands of Seth, and was believed to protect the dead with her husband in the afterlife. Upon her head is the symbol of her name which is the hieroglyph for a throne.

Maat mꜣꜥt

The goddess of truth, justice, and harmony

Maat the winged goddess in Egyptian mythology symbolises truth, balance and justice. As the embodiment of cosmic equilibrium, Maat's presence was pivotal for maintaining balance and ethical conduct in the world.

Maat played a vital role in ancient Egyptian society ensuring harmony and fairness in both earthly and divine matters. She was present in the judgment of the deceased where a heart was weighed against her feather to determine one's fate in the afterlife. Her feathered headdress represents her connection to law and order.

Neith nit

The goddess of warfare and weaponry

Neith was one of ancient Egypt’s earliest goddesses whose name meant “she is the terrifying one”. She was worshipped from the pre-dynastic period as the original creator of the universe and everything it contained, governing how all things functioned.

As religious practices evolved she was worshipped more for her protective qualities. In her form as a goddess of war, she was said to make the weapons of warriors and to guard their bodies when they died. The symbol for her name and the headdress she wears depicts two bows over a shield, which is sometimes crossed with arrows.

Nekhbet nḫbt

The vulture goddess of protection, royalty, and patroness of Upper Egypt

Nekhbet is an early predynastic local goddess, who was the patron of the city of Nekheb and Upper Egypt. She and her Lower Egyptian counterpart Wadjet often appeared together as the “Two Ladies”, symbolising all of ancient Egypt when it was unified.

In early art, Nekhbet was depicted as a vulture or as a woman with the head of a vulture. As a vulture, Nekhbet was usually shown hovering on spread wings and clutching a shen symbol in her claws, which represented eternal encircling protection. She also appeared on the headdresses of royalty as a vulture alongside a uraeus cobra, the creature associated with her counterpart Wadjet.

Nephthys nbt-ḥwt

The goddess of mourning, death and the night

Nephthys, an ancient Egyptian goddess, was associated with mourning, protection, and the afterlife. She was revered as a guardian goddess, embodying both the sorrow of loss and the promise of rebirth and regeneration.

Sister to Isis, Osiris, and Seth, and wife of Seth, she played a crucial role in the resurrection of Osiris by helping Isis gather his dismembered body. Depicted with protective wings and a house and basket hieroglyph on her head, Nephthys was believed to protect the deceased and assist their journey to the afterlife.

Nut nt

The sky goddess, mother of the gods, and bringer of night

Nut, an ancient Egyptian goddess, personified the sky, stars, and heavens. She was depicted as a cow or as a naked woman with blue skin adorned with stars, representing the celestial canopy that shelters the world.

Nut was the daughter of Shu, the god of air, and Tefnut, the goddess of moisture, and sister-wife to Geb, the Earth god. Together, they are the offspring of the primordial deity Ra-Atum.

One of her most significant roles is in the daily cycle of the sun. Each night, Nut swallows the sun god Ra, and each morning, she gives birth to him anew, symbolising the dawn. This daily rebirth underscores her association with renewal and regeneration.

Sekhmet sḫmt

The lioness goddess of war, destruction, and healing

Sekhmet is a powerful ancient Egyptian goddess of war, destruction, and healing whose name meant “the Powerful One”. She is often depicted as a lioness or as a woman with the head of a lioness, symbolising her fierce and protective nature.

Daughter of the sun god Ra, she was known as the “Eye of the Sun”, the violent, dazzling and protective aspect of the creator god. She breathed fire against her enemies and was called upon to protect the pharaohs in battle.

Despite her fearsome attributes, Sekhmet also had a dual role as a healer and held the title "mistress of life". She was worshipped as a goddess who could inflict and cure ailments and was associated with medicine and surgery.

Serket srḳt

The scorpion goddess of protection against venom

Serket, whose name means "She Who Tightens the Throat", is an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with protection, healing, and venomous creatures. She is often depicted as a woman with a scorpion on her head or as a scorpion herself.

Serket's association with healing made her a patroness of physicians and magicians who invoked her aid to treat scorpion stings and snake bites.

As a protective deity, she was one of four goddesses who protected the canopic jars containing the organs of the mummified, entrusted with safeguarding the jar containing the intestines guarded by Qebehsenuef.

Seshat sšꜢt

The goddess of writing, wisdom, and measurement

Seshat represented wisdom, knowledge, and writing and was the patroness of architects and scribes. She played a crucial role in recording history, measuring time, and overseeing the construction of temples and monuments. As the "Lady of the Library," she symbolised the importance of literacy and scholarship in Egyptian society, embodying the pursuit of wisdom and the preservation of knowledge. Seshat was depicted draped in a leopard skin, a garment usually worn by male priests, and a headdress resembling a seven-pointed star.

Taweret tꜢ-wrt

The hippopotamus goddess of childbirth and fertility

Taweret is the ancient Egyptian goddess of childbirth and fertility, symbolising strength and maternal care. Her benevolent nature extended beyond maternity, with amulets and household items bearing her image used to protect against malevolent forces.

She was depicted as a hybrid creature with the body of a hippopotamus, the limbs of a lion, the back and tail of a Nile crocodile, and the breasts and belly of a pregnant woman. Tawaret was believed to safeguard mothers and children during pregnancy and childbirth, warding off evil spirits and harmful influences.

Wadjet wꜢḏt

The cobra goddess of protection, royalty, and patroness of Lower Egypt

Wadjet is an early predynastic local goddess, who was the patron of the city of Per-Wadjet (Buto) and Lower Egypt. She and her Upper Egyptian counterpart Nekhbet often appeared together as the “Two Ladies”, symbolising all of ancient Egypt when it was unified.

Wadjet was depicted as a cobra or a woman with a cobra's head and was closely associated with the uraeus, the rearing cobra emblem on pharaohs' crowns, which was believed to spit fire at enemies. She was also linked to the Eye of Ra, embodying the sun god's protective and vengeful aspects. She was worshipped as a fierce protector of the nation and a provider of stability and order.