Wadjet

How I came to this subject, I wonder? I believe it might have something to do with my snake, whom I named after this rather unknown Egyptian Goddess.

Wadjet(the goddess) is rather unknown, as I stated before. She is also known under many names, some of wich are: Edjo, Udjo and Buto.
Usually she is depicted as the protector of Lower Egypt(with the delta). Wadjet was also the goddess of childbirth, protector of children and later on the kings.

Often she is found as a rearing cobra on the heads of rulers. For an example, look at Tutanchamon's Death Mask.

Legend has it that Wadjet was the daughter of Atum, the first god of the Universe. He created her as his eye. Her purpose was to search the Universe for his lost sons, Tefnut and Shu. Wadjet did find his sons, and Atum was so happy to see them that he cried. It is said that those tears made humans. As a reward, Atum placed Wadjet upon his head in the form of a cobra. There she would be feared and respected by all the gods and men.


The real Egyptian Cobra, Naja haje, is rumored to be the 'cause' for Cleopatra's suicide. She experimented on prisoners to see which venom was the least painful. Perhaps a new blog entry will be dedicated to Cleopatra and the role of the snake in her life(or death, as you wish).