The shape of Set's head, and the was scepter as a bull phallus opens up multiple interpretive angles. It makes sense given the image of a literal "raging bull", full of energy, fertility, vitality and masculine drive. Many creator deities are called bulls, mating bulls or "bull of his mother", all in reference to their powerful and creative force.
That Set is the "Lord of Unbridled Forces" and associated with chaos and storms plays into this over-exuberance of force in a slightly different manner. In essence, his defeat at the hands of Horus represents a "taming" of this force. In myths where he is then given the task of helping defeat Apep on the solar bark, it goes further into the symbolism of proper guidance of formerly uncontrolled violence into something beneficial. This last task is arguably also a function of society itself.
I just use a crowbar painted gold for a mini-was scepter when necessary.
Fascinating discussion, thank you! I was particularly struck by the conjunction of Set being representative of the foreigners, or the “other,” and also of discord. I’m not naive enough to think that xenophobia is a new concept, but given the current political zeitgeist it makes one think.
If you have any insight on the Sekhem scepter and it's relationship to the Myth on the Destruction of Man Kind also known as the "The Book of the Heavenly Cow" and its relationship to the Pyramid Texts of Unis that might be nice too or perhaps subject of another post.
The shape of Set's head, and the was scepter as a bull phallus opens up multiple interpretive angles. It makes sense given the image of a literal "raging bull", full of energy, fertility, vitality and masculine drive. Many creator deities are called bulls, mating bulls or "bull of his mother", all in reference to their powerful and creative force.
That Set is the "Lord of Unbridled Forces" and associated with chaos and storms plays into this over-exuberance of force in a slightly different manner. In essence, his defeat at the hands of Horus represents a "taming" of this force. In myths where he is then given the task of helping defeat Apep on the solar bark, it goes further into the symbolism of proper guidance of formerly uncontrolled violence into something beneficial. This last task is arguably also a function of society itself.
I just use a crowbar painted gold for a mini-was scepter when necessary.
We have a part ii of Seth discussion coming up in exactly these topics!
A crowbar painted gold! 🤣
Hello Kara and Amber,
The Egyptian God Seth represent stylistically the very Milky Way contours on the northern hemisphere as illustrated here:
https://www.native-science.net/MilkyWay.GreatestGod.htm
Regards
Ivar Nielsen
Comparative Mythologist
Denmark
Very cool
Fascinating discussion, thank you! I was particularly struck by the conjunction of Set being representative of the foreigners, or the “other,” and also of discord. I’m not naive enough to think that xenophobia is a new concept, but given the current political zeitgeist it makes one think.
Thank you, as usual, for the podcast!
The xenophobic angle is real and brought into our part ii discussion as well.
Can’t wait!
If you have any insight on the Sekhem scepter and it's relationship to the Myth on the Destruction of Man Kind also known as the "The Book of the Heavenly Cow" and its relationship to the Pyramid Texts of Unis that might be nice too or perhaps subject of another post.
Thanks for the suggestion. Stay tuned—we are planning to do an episode on The Destruction of Mankind!
Holy cow! 🤯
That’s the perfect summation for the entire episode! 😂
Absolutely. It's mind boggling!