Some early legends portrayed Auset as the wife of
Ra, but later represented her as the devoted wife and
partner of Ausar, whom she helped to govern Kemet.
After Set, her brother, murdered her husband out of
jealousy, she set out in a relentless search to recover
Ausar’s body, which had been cut up and scattered
by Set. Finding all the parts of Ausar except his phal-
lus, she helped him redeem himself as the resurrected
king of the Tuat and magically bore him a child. She
hid, raised, and protected the child, who would even-
tually avenge his father by waging war on his uncle
Set and defeating him with the aid of his mother.
Kemetians depicted Auset on coffins and tomb
walls along with her sister with wings outstretched
symbolizing a protective embrace; likewise, they
showed her in a winged form with her protective
arms around Ausar. Sometimes they depicted her as
a mother nursing her child Heru or both harkening
to her legendary role as protector and redeemer.
Kemetians transferred this protective image into the
new kingdom when Kemetians portrayed her as
protector of the per-aa (pharaoh). Finally, Africans
represented her as a kite hovering above Ausar
creating a breeze of air for Ausar to breathe.
Auset’s epithets reveal the Kemetians, reverence for
her even more: “one who gives birth to the heaven
and earth,” “one who seeks justice for the poor and
vulnerable,” “one who seeks shelter for the weak,”
“queen of heaven,” “mother of the Gods,” “one who
is all,” “The brilliant one in the sky,” “the great leady
of magic,” “Mistress of the House of Life,” “One
who knows how to make right use of the heart,”
“Light giver of Heaven,” “Lady of the Words of
power,” and “Moon shining Over the Sea.”
In early Kemetic legends, Africans portrayed
Auset as a clever and guile trickster as she sets out
to learn the hidden name of Ra. Feeling worthy of
some Ra power, which could be acquired through
knowledge of his name, she tricked Ra into reveal-
ing his hidden name, which grants her a portion of
his power. Furthermore, legend has it that he gave
her permission to pass that knowledge on to her
son, giving him status and power no other could
rival. Henceforth, Kemetians called her “the mis-
tress of the gods who knows Ra by his own
name.” In another story, she tricks Set into incrim-
inating himself before a court of law.
Kemetians mention Auset as early as the pyra-
mid text. Over time, Kemetians assimilated herAuset 81Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. Bastet was the goddess of fire,
cats, the home, and pregnant women. She was the
personification of the soul of Auset.
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