Editing Sekhmet (section)

== Roles ==
Sekhmet is the daughter of the sun god, [[Ra]], and is among the more important of the goddesses in the Egyptian [[Pantheon (religion) |Pantheon]]. Sekhmet acted as the vengeful manifestation of Ra's power, the [[Eye of Ra]]. Sekhmet is said to breathe fire, and the hot winds of the desert were likened to her breath. She is also believed to cause plagues (which were described as being her servants or messengers) although she is also called upon to ward off disease and heal the sick.<ref>Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003). ''The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt''. Thames & Hudson. p. 181.</ref>
[[File:Wall relief Kom Ombo4.JPG|left|thumb|Wall relief of Sekhmet, [[Temple of Kom Ombo]]]]
In a myth about the end of Ra's rule on the earth, Ra sends the goddess [[Hathor]], in the form of Sekhmet, to destroy mortals who conspired against him. In the myth, Sekhmet's bloodlust was not quenched at the end of battle, and this led to her going on a bloody rampage that laid Egypt to waste and almost destroyed all of humanity. To stop her, Ra and the other gods devised a plan. They poured out a lake of beer dyed with red ochre so that it resembled blood. Mistaking the beer for blood, Sekhmet drank it all and became so drunk that she gave up on the slaughter and returned peacefully to Ra.<ref>[[Miriam Lichtheim|Lichtheim, Miriam]] (2006) [1976]. ''Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume Two: The New Kingdom''. University of California Press. pp. 197–199.</ref> The same myth was also described in the prognosis texts of the Calendar of Lucky and Unlucky Days of Papyrus Cairo 86637.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Jetsu, L.|author2=Porceddu, S.|title=Shifting Milestones of Natural Sciences: The Ancient Egyptian Discovery of Algol's Period Confirmed|journal = PLOS ONE|volume = 10 |issue = 12|date = 2015|pages = e.0144140 (23pp)|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0144140|pmid=26679699|pmc=4683080|arxiv=1601.06990|bibcode=2015PLoSO..1044140J|doi-access=free}}</ref>{{Ancient Egyptian religion}}In other versions of this story, Sekhmet grew angered at the deception and left Egypt, diminishing the power of the sun. This threatened the power and security of the world—thus, she was persuaded by the god [[Thoth]] to return and restore the sun to its full glory.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Strudwick|first=Helen|title=The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt|publisher=Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.|year=2006|isbn=978-1-4351-4654-9|location=New York|pages=135}}</ref> Sekhmet's feline attributes and her iconography sometimes make it difficult to differentiate Sekhmet from other feline goddesses – mainly [[Bastet]].

[[File:KomOmboSekhmet.JPG|thumb| ]]

Sekhmet was considered the wife of the god [[Ptah]] and mother of his son [[Nefertum]]. She was also said to be the mother of the lion-headed war god, [[Maahes]]. She was also considered to be the sister of the cat goddess Bastet.<ref>Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003). ''The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt''. Thames & Hudson. pp. 178, 181.</ref> The lion-headed goddess Sekhmet is the most represented deity in most Egyptian collections worldwide. Many amulets depict her image and her numerous statues abound in Egyptian art. Many of her statues can be found in museums and archaeological sites, and her presence testifies to the historical and cultural importance of this goddess.