Seated Statues of Goddess Sekhmet

Before you are two seated statues of Sekhmet, one of ancient Egypt’s most formidable deities. Her name, meaning "the Powerful One," reflects her fierce nature as a goddess of war, fire, and destruction. However, Sekhmet was also seen as a protective figure, capable of healing and safeguarding the pharaoh. This duality made her worship central in the reign of King Amenhotep III, during Egypt’s New Kingdom around 1390–1352 BCE. King Amenhotep III commissioned an astonishing 365 statues of Sekhmet—one for each day of the year. These statues were believed to ensure the goddess’s daily appeasement and secure the king’s favor and protection. Most of these statues were placed at his mortuary temple in Kom el-Hetan, near modern-day Luxor. The two statues you see here originally stood among this grand assemblage, symbolizing the pharaoh’s devotion to divine power and his role as an intermediary between gods and mortals. In Egyptian belief, Sekhmet’s power was both awe-inspiring and dangerous. She was often depicted with the head of a lioness, representing her lethal precision in battle, and her seated posture here speaks to her readiness and eternal vigilance. Black granite, the material of these statues, was chosen deliberately to echo the protective and eternal aspects of Sekhmet’s nature. The statues face outward, watchful guardians meant to shield the pharaoh from evil and chaos. Their placement and symbolism illustrate the importance of daily offerings and rituals in maintaining cosmic balance. For the ancient Egyptians, these statues were not just art—they were potent vessels of divine power, ensuring that Sekhmet’s fiery essence remained controlled and benevolent toward the king and his people.