The inscription of the goddess Meretseger in Deir el-Medina

The inscription of the goddess Meretseger in Deir el-Medina

In the New Kingdom Meretseger a highly revered goddess among the craftsmen and workers of Deir el-Medina the villagers who built the royal tombs often appeared as a winged cobra, a cobra with a woman's head or a woman with a cobra's head she resided on Mount Al-Qurn a towering pyramid-shaped peak overlooking the Valley of the Kings. Steles ancient Egyptian limestone tablets inscribed with stories dedicated to Meretseger the cobra goddess who protected the tombs of Thebes bestowed blessings and protected the souls of pharaohs and loyal workers but at the same time she was also feared.

This limestone stela from Paneb, ancient Egypt, dates back to the 19th Dynasty, around 1200 BC. The carving is divided into two sections. One section depicts Paneb, a craftsman from the village of Deir el-Medina, worshipping a large, coiled serpent representing the goddess Meretseger, the serpent goddess who guards the Valley of the Kings. Below, three craftsmen are shown kneeling in worship.

The figures depicted are Paneb and others workers from the village of Deir el-Medina performing gestures of worship and seeking protection from the goddess Meretseger. This inscription dates from the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom approximately 1292–1190 BC. and was originally found in the area of ​​Luxor or Deir el-Medina in Egypt.

Deir el-Medina, located on the west bank of the Nile River opposite Luxor, is now home to craftsmen. This site was once a village of artisans, sculptors, and workers who excavated and decorated the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. In ancient times, it was known as "Set Maat," meaning "Place of Truth."

The goddess Meretseger could blind people or punish those who committed crimes stole or swore false oaths with snake venom. Meretseger was the cobra goddess of ancient Egyptian religion responsible for guarding tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Her name has a profound meaning "lover of silence" Her relationship with humans differed from other goddesses Meretseger was closely associated with ordinary workers numerous stelae have been found inscribed on stone tablets created by workers to seek forgiveness and plead with her when they were ill. As the guardian of the tombs she played a significant role.