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2-05-2015, 16:19

Mythology

Wepwawet was possibly the oldest of Egypt’s jackal gods, being already represented on one of the standards preceding the king on the Narmer Palette at the dawn of Egypt’s historical period and attested by name from the 3rd dynasty. The archaeological evidence indicates that the god’s origins were probably in the region of Upper Egypt, but his worship soon spread; and in the Pyramid Texts he is even said to have been born in the Lower Egyptian shrine of the goddess Wadjet (PT 1438). Wepwawet translates as ‘opener of the ways’, but the meaning of the god’s name is susceptible to a number of interpretations. Based on the god’s frequently attested warlike character, it could refer ro the opening of the ways before the king in terms of military conquest. In the context of the ‘adze of Wepwawet’ which was used in the ‘opening of the mouth’ ritual, it could also refer to the magical opening of the deceased king’s eyes and mouth, and in funerary texts Wepwawet also ‘opened the ways’ in leading the deceased through the netherworld and the king to ascension (PT 1009). The title could be even understood in a cosmic sense as he is said to open the way for the sun to rise in the sky (PT 455). .As ‘leader of the gods’, the image of Wepwawet

Wepwa wet in fuUy zoomorphic form on his haracteristic standard.

Detail, relief of Ramesses III.

Went before the king and before other gods in many events and the name could possibly relate to his leading of these ritual processions. Finally, in the Memphite Theology we find the expression ‘the opener of the body, Wepwawet’, so that as a firstborn the god could be seen as the opener of the way of the womb. Wepwawet and Anubis are sometimes confused - even in the ancient texts - but it is clear that they were independent deities. On the other hand, Wepwawet may have been synonymous with the god Sed who was depicted as a canid atop an identical standard in early times. In a less direct manner, Wepwawet was identified with the god Horus and could also be associated with the sun god in the form of Wepwawet-Re.