Meanings
alternative Safkhet · alternative Sesat · alternative Seshata · alternative Seshet · alternative Sesheta
- Egyptianhuman sciencesThe Egyptian goddess of writing and wisdom, often depicted as a scribe or recordkeeper.
The most important of these scenes shows the king leaving his palace with the goddess of writing, Seshat, in order to lay out the foundations for the temple.
2010, Zahi A. Hawass, Wonders of the Horus Temple: The Sound and Light of Edfu, page 83 more examples
Seshat represents the organizational capacity of keeping records—knowledge, information, etc. Seshat is depicted carrying the reed pen and palette, and records deeds in eternity/space, i.e. memory. As such, Seshat is referred to as: The Enumerator, Lady of Writing(s), Scribe, Head of the House of the Divine Books (Archives), Lady of Builders...
2001, Moustafa Gadalla, Egyptian Divinities: The All Who Are the One, page 50The link between the measurement of space and measurement of time is also clear from early periods in the activities of the goddess Seshat, the goddess associated with the foundation ceremony, during which the orientation of buildings was established.
2010, Kate Spence, “Establishing direction in early Egyptian burials and monumental architecture”, in Iain Morley, Colin Renfrew, editors, The Archaeology of Measurement: Comprehending Heaven, Earth and Time in Ancient Societies, page 176At least eight separate Egyptologists, in addition to myself, have suggested that the ancient Egyptians directly identified Seshat as a form or aspect of Nebt-het (101).
2010, Tamara L. Siuda, Nebt-het: Lady of the House, 2nd edition, page 14
Origin
From the Ancient Egyptian sšꜣ "scribe" + feminine determinative t; sšꜣ.t "female scribe".
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic سشات
- سشاتEgyptian goddess of writing and wisdom
Cite this entry
Seshat. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Seshat
“Seshat.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Seshat. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Seshat,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Seshat.
Source: Seshat on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.