Site of Chelsea Luellon Bolton: Author, Scholar and Poet
Aspects of Aset and Aset vs. Isis
by TahekerutAset
Aset is a multi-faceted Goddess who worship spanned for thousands of years with ancient Egyptians, Nubians, Greek and Romans all honoring Her in some way.
For the most part, Her ancient Egyptian attributes are as the mother and maker of kings, the Mother of Heru and the Goddess of the Throne, its sovereignty and lineage. Continue reading “Bright Week: Aspects of Aset; Aset vs. Isis”
Aset, the Possessor of Strength
Aset is the Strongest of Goddesses as She is the one along with Set to destroy Ap-p during Ra’s Nightly Journey. In one myth, She stopped the Sun Boat to heal Heru-sa-Aset.
She mourned and worked through Her anguish when Wesir died and raised Her son as a single mother.
She is depicted wielding a scimitar, slaughtering the enemies of Her son or husband or Her Father Ra with flame.
At Aswan and Philae temples, Aset is called “Chief at the Head of the Army” and “Possessor of Strength”. She has a very bellicose nature here as these temples were positioned at country borders where enemies could invade.
Q&A Session
When have you asked Aset for strength? Who is Aset as a Goddess of strength and fortitude? How do you see Aset as a possessor of strength?
Aset and Her Family
Throughout the ancient Egyptian history, Aset has been connected with many deities as Her family members. First off, Her parents are the sun God Ra or the Earth God Geb and the Sky Goddess, Nut. In one instance Tefnut is said to be Her Mother. Her siblings are Nebet Het, Wesir, Heru Wer and Set.
In most of Her mythology and cult centers, Wesir is Her Husband. She mourns him and searches for Him when he passes away. She then conceives Her son Heru-sa-Aset through Wesir’s lightning or the golden phallus.
She raises Heru-sa-Aset alone in the marshes and heals him from various ailments and protects Him from danger. She aids Him in his trial for Kingship. When He wins, She places the new King on His throne.
In other cult centers and time periods, Aset is the mother of Wepwawet, Sobek, or Min (with Wesir as the Father). Wepwawet, Min or Sobek can also be consorts. Sometimes they are even syncretized with Wesir (at least in Sobek and Min’s case). Sometimes Yinepu is mentioned as Her son.
Aset can be the Mother, Daughter or Consort of Ra.
For my essay on this, with citations go here: Aset’s Family
Q&A Session
Do you honor Aset alongside one of Her family members? If so, what have your experiences been?
Aset, the Fiercely Bright One
Aset is a stellar and solar Goddess. Aset is an a daughter of Ra, an Eye of Ra and She can manifest as a lioness, cobra or leopard in this form.
She is a Sovereign of the Sun Disk and a Goddess of Dawn and Dusk.
She is the Goddess who guides the Sun Boat and destroys the Uncreated with Her magic. She is a fierce protector who destroys enemies with flame.
As Sopdet, She brings the New Year, appearing in the Sky when the Nile flooded the land. Sopdet is the brightest star in the sky apart from the sun.
She is the Lady of Stars and is a Goddess of the Starry Heavens.
In various myths, she is also the daughter, consort or mother of Ra.
Q&A Session
Continue reading “Bright Week: Aset, the Fiercely Bright One”
Bright Week: A Week Long Celebration of the Goddess Aset
Bright Week is a week-long celebration for the ancient Egyptian Goddess Aset! We are celebrating this within the House of Netjer during this week (June 24-30) with chats, rituals, lighting candles, forum topic posts and giving Her plenty of offerings!
A note about my Aset research:
1) I take from all time periods this includes Pre-dynastic, Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, the Intermediate Periods and the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.
2) I try to take things that are in Egypt and in the ancient Egyptian languages from hieroglyphs to demotic. (Holidays are the only exception to this rule as I have some Greek and Roman dates and festivals on my calendar. Most of them are based on Egyptian myths so…the more holidays the merrier!).
3) Additions to Her attributes are fine as long as they have an ancient Egyptian precedent. So, Aset is called a Leopard in a hymn from the Temple of Philae and this is due to her aspect as an Eye of Ra. Leopards may not be Egyptian, but the Eye of Ra associated with Big Cats such as Lionesses is very much an Ancient Egyptian concept. So Aset is a Lioness and a Leopard to me. (And it is from the Temple of Philae, in Egypt and in hieroglyphs which helps).
4) My research leads me to Egyptology, archaeology and religious studies books and works by modern Kemetic and Tameran Pagan practitioners. And I cite as such.
And that’s all I can think of for now.
So here is a quick post about the festivals of Aset for the month of June.
3 Shomu/Epiphi/June
2-Great Feast of the Two Lands
4-Conception of Heru-sa-Aset
12-Procession of Aset and Celebration of the Marriage Contract of Aset
14 of June-Night of the Teardrop of Aset
21-One Who Makes Lamentation Before Aset, the Beautiful, the Great Goddess
22-Feast of Entry of Aset
26 of 3 Shomu to 15 of 4 Shomu-Festival of the Birth of Aset, with the Beautiful Throne (Isis Nepherses), the Great Goddess
28-Appearance of Sopdet
30-Burning the Widow’s Flame
Fiercely Bright One 