Seth
Also known as Set, Setekh, Suty and Sutekh, Seth was the god of chaos, darkness, violence, evil, deserts, storms, and one of the Osirian gods. In the Osiris myth, he is the murderer of Osiris (in some versions of the myth, he tricks Osiris into laying down in a coffin and then seals it shut.)
Seth’s appearance poses a problem for Egyptologists. He is often depicted as an animal or as a human with the head of an animal. But they can’t figure out what animal he’s supposed to be. He usually has a long snout and long ears that are squared at the tips. In his fully animal form, he has a thin doglike body and a straight tail with a tuft on the end. Many scholars now believe that no such animal ever existed and that the Seth animal is some sort of mythical composite.
The Mythological murderer of Osiris and enemy of Horus, The god of the desert, storms, and evil, Set was one mean dude. His color was red, the color of sterile soil and the desert. Set was the strongest of the gods, and very tricky. He became pharaoh of Egypt after killing his brother, but was later overthrown by his nephew Horus. After that, Set fled into the desert, where he controlled all the evil harsh lands outside the Nile Valley. Set wasn’t all bad, however. In the old days, he sailed on Ra’s boat and helped defend the sun god from the armies of the chaos serpent Apep.
His name is translated as “Instigator of Confusion” and “Destroyer”. He is depicted as a red beast with cloven hooves and a forked tale and is the prototype for the later iconography of the Christian Devil. Set was originally a hero-god who drove away the serpent Apep (Apophis) from the barge of the sun god and killed it nightly. He was a desert god who brought the evil winds of the dry lands to the lush Nile Valley and was associated with foreign lands and people. His consorts were Anat and Astarte, both goddesses associated with war and both from foreign countries, as well as Taweret, the benign protective goddess of childbirth and fertility. Set is often characterized as “evil”, and did manifest many evil qualities, but was not regarded by the ancient Egyptians as an embodiment of evil or darkness. He was rather seen as a necessary balance to gods like Osiris and Horus who represented all things noble and good, fertility, vitality, and eternity. Set is best known as the world’s first murderer in the Myth of Osiris where he kills his brother to usurp the throne. Isis returns Osiris to life but, because he is incomplete, descends to the underworld as Lord of the Dead. Isis gives birth to Osiris’ son, Horus, who grows up to challenge set for the throne. Their battles, which lasted for eighty years, are described in the text The Contendings of Horus and Set and were resolved in one version by Isis while, in another, by Neith with Horus declared rightful king and Set banished to the desert lands.
Seth was the son of Geb and Nut, and the evil brother of Osiris. He was the god of darkness, chaos, and confusion, and is represented as a man with an unknown animal head, often described as a Typhonian by the Greeks who associated him with the god Typhon. He is sometimes depicted as a hippopotamus, a pig, or a donkey. Seth murdered his brother and usurped the throne of Egypt and most of the other gods despised him.
Horus eventually defeated Seth, but it was thought that their battle was an eternal struggle between good and evil. Although Seth failed to keep the throne of Egypt he continued to be a companion of Ra. He sometimes accompanied Ra across the sky in his solar boat, causing storms and bad weather.
Seth was venerated by some, and his main cult center was at Naqada. Some kings would liken themselves to Seth in battle, but for the most part the people loathed him and his defeat by Horus was regularly celebrated.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Egypt
Who is Isis the goddess?
Who is Isis the goddess?
What are the powers of Isis?
What are the powers of Isis?
Where is the temple of Philae located?
Where is the temple of Philae located?
How old is Philae Temple?
How old is Philae Temple?
Is it safe to travel to Egypt
Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
Is it safe to visit the Pyramids
Is it safe to visit the Pyramids?
Definitely safe to explore Cairo and visit the pyramids, especially while being accompanied with your guide.
Here are some of the best tours to Pyramids:
https://bastettravel.com/egypt-day-tours/cairo-tours/cairo-day-tour/
Is it allowed to enter The Pyramids in Egypt
Is it allowed to enter The Pyramids in Egypt?
Tourists are allowed to enter all three of the great pyramids, for a fee, of course. That is, you can go into the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure as long as you pay for a ticket. That’s the good news.
The bad news starts with the mundane issues of how hard it can be to get inside. You must first pay for a ticket (around $20) for general admission to the grounds, then for an additional ticket for each pyramid, between about $5 and $15. The total amounts up fast, especially if you’re traveling with your family.
Second, ticket sales are not a smooth procedure. Changes occur in the process regularly, and you can never be sure of exactly what to expect. First, there’s often, but not always, a limit imposed on ticket sales for the smaller pyramids, those of Khufu and Khafre. This is usually 300 tickets per pyramid per day, but only 150 are offered in the morning, the rest are saved until the afternoon. People get annoyed and impatient and you may run into pushing and shoving.
How far is Marsa Alam from the Pyramids
How far is Marsa Alam from the Pyramids?
The distance between Marsa Alam and the Pyramids of Giza is 660 km.
Is Egypt Safe for Americans to Travel to
Is Egypt Safe for Americans to Travel to?
We get this question a lot at Bastet Travel In short, Americans and other visitors can rest easy: yes, Egypt is a safe country for tourists. And the rest of the world seems to agree — after years of middling numbers, tourism in Egypt is steadily rising towards its former highs, hosting over 9 million sightseers in 2018. The longer answer is worth exploring, though, and we have some assurances to offer all our clients who join us on all of our Egypt Travel Packages.
Is it safe to travel to Marsa Alam
Is it safe to travel to Marsa Alam?
The main tourist areas are considered generally safe to visit, though you should always check the latest government advice before traveling. There are some parts holidaymakers are not advised to visit, though this does not refer to the popular resorts of Hurghada, Luxor, or Marsa Alam for example.
What are the most famous tourist attractions in Egypt
What are the most famous tourist attractions in Egypt?
Egypt has so much for travelers to see and do, it’s the perfect country for a mix of activities combining culture, adventure, and relaxation. Find the best places to visit with our list of the top tourist attractions in Egypt.
- Pyramids of Giza
- Valley of the kings
- Luxor’s Karnak Temple
- The Egyptian Museum
- Christian and Islamic Cairo
- The White Desert and Baharyia Oasis
- Siwa Oasis
- Abu simbel Temples
- Aswan
- Alexandria
- St. Catherine’s Monastery
- The Nubian village
- Nile River Cruise
- Hurghada
- South of Sinai
Which resorts in Sharm el sheikh are good for couples?
Which resorts in Sharm el sheikh are good for couples?
These resorts in Sharm El Sheikh are highly rated by couples: Domina Prestige Hotel & Resort, Aqua Blu Sharm El Sheikh – Families and couples only, and Steigenberger Alcazar.
How far is Luxor from Marsa Alam
How far is Luxor from Marsa Alam?
The distance between Marsa Alam and Luxor is 237 km. The road distance is 355.7 km.
Which resorts in Sharm el sheikh are good for families?
Which resorts in Sharm el sheikh are good for families?
Many families visiting Sharm El Sheikh enjoyed staying at Sunrise Arabian Beach Resort, Rixos Premium Seagate – Ultra All Inclusive, and Sunrise Diamond Beach Resort -Grand Select.
What are the best tours in Sharm El sheikh?
What are the best tours in Sharm El sheikh?
Grand Safari including Snorkeling at the Blue Hole and a Camel Ride along the Gulf of Aqaba
5×1 Desert Adventure from Sharm El Sheikh
Day Trip to the White Island & Ras Mohammed
Mount Sinai Climb and St Catherine Tour from Sharm el Sheikh
Full-Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples From Aswan
How much does it cost to stay in a resort in Sharm El sheikh?
How much does it cost to stay in a resort in Sharm El sheikh?
On average, a resort in Sharm El Sheikh costs $121 per night (based on Booking.com prices).
What are the top attractions to visit in Sharm El Sheikh?
What are the top attractions to visit in Sharm El Sheikh?
The top attractions to visit in Sharm El Sheikh are:
Ras Mohammed National Park
SOHO Square
Old Market
Na’ama Bay
Ras Um Sid
See all attractions in Sharm El Sheikh
When was Philae Temple built?
When was Philae Temple built?
What are the best day trips from Sharm El Sheikh?
What are the best day trips from Sharm El Sheikh?
The best day trips from Sharm El Sheikh according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
Mount Sinai Climb and St Catherine Tour from Sharm El Sheikh
Sunrise at Mount Sinai. The trip from Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh Desert Adventure (5X1)
Mount Sinai Climb and St Catherine Tour from Sharm el Sheikh
Full-Day Guided Tour to Alexandria with Lunch from Cairo by Car
See all day trips from Sharm El Sheikh
Is Alexandria worth visiting?
Is Alexandria worth visiting?
If you happen to find yourself in Cairo and have one more day to spare, Alexandria in Egypt is worth a visit. Unlike Giza, it does not have momentous monuments like the Pyramids to show for, but it does have a great waterfront view and is a refuge from the chaos of downtown Cairo.
Why was the Temple of Philae built?
Why was the Temple of Philae built?
How old is Philae Temple?
How old is Philae Temple?
Related Articles
Related
Ancient Egyptian Gods And Goddesses
For all ancient Egyptians, the world was filled with mystery. Much of what they experienced in the world around them was unknowable and frightening. The ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses represented aspects of the Egyptians’ natural and “supernatural” surroundings and helped them understand its many aspects.
Horus
Depicted as a falcon or as a man with a falcon’s head, Horus was a sky god associated with war and hunting. He was also the embodiment of the divine kingship, and in some eras the reigning king was considered to be a manifestation of Horus.
Isis
Isis is the wife and sister of Osiris and the mother of Horus (the falcon). Her name means “the throne“. She is usually represented in a shape of a lady and sometimes a lady with 2 stretched wings. She became a major deity in Greek and Roman religion. Isis is represented with a throne on her head and sometimes shown breastfeeding the infant Horus. In this manifestation she was known as “Mother of God.” To the Egyptians she represented the ideal wife and mother; loving, devoted, and caring.