Ikhemu-sek
Group of ancient Egyptian deities
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ikhemu-sek (Ancient Egyptian: j.ḫmw-sk – literally "the ones not knowing destruction"[1] also known as the Imperishable ones) were a group of ancient Egyptian minor deities who were the personifications of the northern constellations.[2]
| Ikhemu-sek | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Ikhemu-sek, based from image the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I (KV17) Nineteenth Dynasty, astronomical vaulted ceiling Valley of the Kings | ||||||||
| Name in hieroglyphs |
| |||||||
| Symbol | Stars, constellations | |||||||
History
The northern constellations were depicted in the tomb of Senenmut on the astronomical ceiling.[2] The Ikhemu-sek were also found on the astronomical vaulted ceilings of tombs in the Valley of the Kings.[2]
Iconography
The Ikhemu-sek where portrayed as both animal and human-like: A woman, lion (leo), bull, man, falcon-headed man, man, and hippopotamus.