Wadjet

Wadjet was one of the earliest Egyptian deities. She began to be worshipped in the Predynastic Period as the tutelary goddess of Lower Egypt, the northern part of the country. She eventually became the official goddess of the monarchy, when Lower Egypt fused with Upper Egypt c. 3500 B.C. Wadjet’s job was to guard the kings of Egypt and to protect them from their enemies.

Wadjet most often took the form of a cobra, who would strike out at the King’s enemies if he were threatened. In ancient Egypt, the cobra was a very powerful and prestigious animal, symbolizing royalty and sovereignty. However, Wadjet could also take the form of a lioness, like in the statuette shown here.