Editing Seshat (section)

==History==
Seshat is attested from at least the [[First Dynasty of Egypt|First Dynasty]]. Her priests and image are referenced in the [[Palermo Stone|Royal Annals of the Old Kingdom]], during the reign of [[Den (pharaoh)|Den]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Wilkinson |first=Toby A. H. |author-link=Toby Wilkinson |url=https://archive.org/details/royalannalsofancientegyptroutledgetobya.h.wilkinson2000/page/n111/mode/2up |title=Royal Annals Of Ancient Egypt: The Palermo Stone and its Associated Fragments |date=2000 |publisher=Kegan Paul International |isbn=0-7103-0667-9 |location=London |pages=112–118 |access-date=17 March 2025 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> She was depicted in image as early as the [[second Dynasty of Egypt|Second Dynasty]], where she was shown conducting the "[[Rope stretcher|stretching the cord]]" ritual with [[Khasekhemwy]].<ref name="Wilkinson"/> The antiquity of her symbols, such as the notched [[Palm branch|palm stick]] that predated writing, suggests that she may have originated earlier than the First Dynasty.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Wainwright |first=G. A. |author-link=Gerald Avery Wainwright |date=1940 |title=Seshat and the Pharaoh |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.533328/page/n57/mode/1up |journal=Journal of Egyptian Archaeology |publisher=The Egypt Exploration Fund |publication-place=London |volume=26 |pages=30–33 |doi=10.1177/030751334002600105 |access-date=27 February 2025 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> In addition, examples of her [[#Emblem|emblem]], or symbols that appear related, have been found dating from the 3rd millennium BC [[Protodynastic Period]].<ref name=":62">{{Cite journal |last=Magdolen |first=Dušan |date=2006 |title=The Development of the Sign of the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Seshat Down to the End of the Old Kingdom: Analysis and Interpretation – Part Three |url=https://www.sav.sk/journals/uploads/021015485_Magdolen.pdf |journal=Asian and African Studies |publisher=Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences |publication-place=Bratislava |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=55–58 |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>

Starting in the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]], Seshat was alternatively represented by the name '''Sefkhet-Abwy'''.<ref name="Note02" group="Note" /> Seshat and Sefkhet-Abwy continued to be depicted until at least the Ptolemaic Dynasty.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Magdolen |first=Dušan |date=2005 |title=The Development of the Sign of the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Seshat Down to the End of the Old Kingdom: Analysis and Interpretation – Part One |url=https://www.sav.sk/journals/uploads/031212234_Magdolen.pdf |journal=Asian and African Studies |publisher=Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences |publication-place=Bratislava |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=46–47 |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>