360 Sekhemré-Wahkhau RahotepSekhemré-Wahkhau Rahotep(fl. c. 1640 B.C.E.)
Reportedly the founder of the Seventeenth Dynasty
He ruled from 1640–? B.C.E., at Thebes, and he main-
tained peaceful relations with the HYKSOS, who ruled the
Delta at the same time. Sekhemré-Wahkhau Rehotep’s
territory included the southern nomes of Egypt.
Sekhet-A’aru This was a mystical island of the dead, a
paradise awaiting the Egyptians found worthy of eternal
bliss. The isle was believed to have existed in the Delta or
at KHARGA, the southernmost oasis of Egypt.
Sekhmet She was a powerful war goddess of Egypt, the
destroyer of pharaoh’s enemies, called “She Who Is Pow-
erful.” Sekhmet was a lioness deity, the consort of PTAH
and the mother of NEFERTEMand Imhotep in MEMPHIS.A
daughter of the god RÉ, Sekhmet struck at evildoers and
spread plagues. She also healed the righteous. Her clergy-
men were physicians and magicians.
Sekhmet had a popular role among the rulers of
Egypt, as she was believed to bring about the conception
of the pharaohs. In the form of a cobra she was called
MEHEN, and she possibly came from NUBIA (modern
Sudan) in the early eras. She was also called the “EYE
OF RÉ.”
Her statues normally depicted her as a woman with a
lion’s head, and at times she wore a sun disk on her head.
In this form she was a warrior manifestation of the sun,
causing flames to devour the enemies of Egypt. In some
eras, the gates of Sekhmet’s temples were opened as a sig-
nal of the onset of a military campaign. AMENEMHET III(r.
1844–1797 B.C.E.) included 700 statues of Sekhmet in his
mortuary temple in DASHUR. She was also portrayed on
the wall of the temple of SAHURÉ(r. 2458–2446 B.C.E.) at
ABUSIR. This portrait acquired a widespread reputation for
its miraculous cures.
Seleucus I Nicator(d. c. 281 B.C.E.)General and ally
of Egypt
He had been a governor in the service of ALEXANDER III
THE GREAT(r. 332–323 B.C.E.) and took control of Baby-
lon when Alexander died. Seleucus I Nicator allied him-
self with PTOLEMY I SOTER(r. 304–284 B.C.E.) to defeat
Antigonus at Ipsus and to secure their holdings. He
proved an unreliable agent of Ptolemy I, however, and
was murdered.
Selket (Serqset) The scorpion goddess of Egypt asso-
ciated with the OSIRIS-ISIS-HORUScult, Selket was wor-
shiped as early as the First Dynasty (2920–2770 B.C.E.),
possibly even earlier. She was originally part of the cult of
NUN, the deity of the dark water abyss. In the PYRAMID
TEXTS, Selket was invoked in the mortuary rituals and
was declared the protectoress of QEBEHSENNUF, the
guardian of the CANOPIC JARSholding human intestines.
She also guarded the royal coffin and the canopic chests.
A strikingly beautiful statue of Selket, fashioned out of
gold and depicting a young woman with a scorpion on
her head, was discovered in the tomb of TUT’ANKHAMUN
(r. 1333–1323 B.C.E.). Selket also protected the goddess
ISISand the child HORUS, and her spells cured stings and
bites.sem See PRIESTS.sema An ancient Egyptian AMULETdesigned to protect
the lungs and windpipes, the name was translated as “to
join.” The amulet was worn by the living and was placed
in the wrappings of mummies during the MORTUARY
RITUALS.Semerkhet (Semempses) (fl. c. 2700 B.C.E.) Sixth
ruler of the First Dynasty
His actual date of reign is undocumented. His name
meant “Thoughtful Friend.” MANETHO, the Ptolemaic
Period (304–30 B.C.E.) historian, listed Semerkhet as
Semempses. He was mentioned in the PALERMO STONEbut
not on the Saqqara KING LIST. Possibly a usurper, he
erased the name of his predecessor on jubilee vases.
Many disasters apparently took place during his reign.
He was buried in ABYDOS, but no Saqqara tomb has
been discovered. A STELAof black quartz with ivory labels
was found in his tomb. An ebony plaque of the SOKAR
BOATwas also found in his tomb. In some lists he is iden-
tified as the son of ’ADJIBand Queen TARSET. Semerkhet’s
son and heir was QA’A.semktet It was a sacred vessel used in ceremonies of
the cult of the god RÉin Egyptian temples. The semktet
was the symbol of the evening boat used by Ré in his
solar journeys each day.
See also MANDET.Semna This was an important military site at the sec-
ond cataract in NUBIA(modern Sudan), where the Egyp-
tians erected a FORTRESSand a temple complex. Semna
marked the southern border of Egypt throughout much
of the Middle Kingdom (2040–1640 B.C.E.). A STELA
made of red granite discovered on the site records that
SENWOSRET III(r. 1878–1841 B.C.E.) made the original
foundation of the fortress of Semna. This fortress had
served as a trading settlement in previous eras. A second
stela, discovered in the temple complex, dedicated the
shrine to the Nubian god DEDUN. KHNUMwas also vener-
ated at Semna.
Semna’s fortress overlooked the Semna Gorge and
was opposite the fortress of Kemna. In time another
fortress, called Semna South, was erected in the region.