Hemsut
Egyptian goddesses of fate and protection
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Egyptian mythology, The ḥmswt (anglicized as Hemsut, Hemuset or Hemusut) were the goddesses of fate and protection.[1][2] They are representative of the Ka (male protective spirit[3]).
| The Hemsut | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Name in hieroglyphs |
| |||||
| Parents | Ptah | |||||
Hemsut are female counterparts to the Ka, providing nourishment, life force, power, and magical protection, especially to newborn royalty. The Hemsut images in art include a shield crossed with arrows, often worn as a headdress and sometimes appearing independently. The shield symbolizes the Sais Nome (Sap-Meh). Originally hemsut were closely associated with specific Kas, forming pairs (e.g., Hemsut of Hu, Hemsut of Heka), their concept probably expanded over time to include other deities.[2]
In popular culture
The Hemsut are briefly mentioned in The Prince of Egypt.
