The Sekhem-Scepter, A Simple of Power

and Control

The Sekhem-Scepter, A Symbol of Power and Control
by Jimmy Dunn

In ancient Egypt, there were many different types of emblems or insignias, of
various types. Scepters make up one small group of these. Egyptologists believe that
symbolic scepters were derived from professional tools. Men used them more than
women did, and kings more than officials and deities. The most typical male insignia
was what is commonly referred to as the sekhem-scepter, or often more technically
referred to as a shm-scepter.

There seems to have been some slight variations in this type of scepter, or at least the
hieroglyphic sign related to it, which also implied slightly different meanings, but no
real distinction can be drawn between their various uses. According to the various
publications of the British Museum published in connection with the Tutankhamun
Exhibit, they included the sekhem-scepter (symbolizing "the powerful"), the aba-scepter
(symbolizing "the commander") and the kherep-scepter (symbolizing "the controller").
These same translations are also provided by Richard H. Wilkinson in his book,
Reading Egyptian Art. These various scepters could be used in hieroglyphs to represent
similar meanings. Interestingly, Geoffrey Graham in the Oxford Encyclopedia of
Ancient Egypt defines them somewhat differently, referring to the shm- or sekhem-
scepter as symbolizing control and the hrp- or kherep-scepter as govern. As a
hieroglyph, it expressed "power" and any deity's stellar manifestation. The word sekhem
could also refer to divine beings, and even the stars, as powers.

Anibus with Sekhem-Scepter from the Tomb of Khaemwaset
Note the elongated head of the scepter behind the front paws
Being a symbol of power or might, the sekhem was frequently incorporated into various
names, such as the king's name, Sekhemkhet, and Sekhmet, the lioness-goddess who's
name means 'she who is powerful".

These scepters resembled a flat paddle on a papyrus-umble handle. It looked to a certain
extent, like a modern fly-swatter. It's symbolic role may have originated in Abydos as a
fetish of Osiris. Osiris was often called "the Great Sekhem" or "Foremost of Powers".
Hence, the sekhem was often used as a symbol of the underworld deity. This probably
led to the scepter also becoming an emblem of Anubis. The sekhem-scepter was sacred
to Anubis in the temple of Hu (known as the "Enclosure of the Sekhem" (hwt-shm).
Anibus is frequently depicted in his manifestation of a reclining dog with the sekhem-
scepter behind him. In such depictions, the scepter is often portrayed with an elongated
head. The scepter was also associated with Khentimentiu (Chief of the Westerners),
another deity who was especially associated with the royal cemetery. In this type of
iconographic representation, the sekhem is often given two eyes, which were carved or
painted on the scepter's upper part as a symbol indicating that it was the manifestation
of divine power.

This symbol of power was sometimes shown in the hands of kings from the Early
Dynastic Period onward. After the 3rd Dynasty, the sekhem appeared in the royal names
of the pharaohs, and later in the titles of queens and princesses as well. When the king
held a sekhem-scepter in his right hand, we would usually hold a mace or censer in the
left.
However, from the earliest times, viziers and other officials of important rank held the
sekhem, signifying the individuals successful life and prestigious position. Such
officials were often portrayed holding the scepter in the course of performing their
duties. If they held the scepter in their right hand, they would usually hold a staff in the
left hand. The classic Egyptian funerary statue depicted the deceased with a staff in one
hand, and the sekhem in the other. As a scepter of office, a pair of eyes were carved on
the upper part of the staff. The sekhem-scepter was also used by supervisors of ship
building.

The sekhem was also utilized in temple and mortuary offering rituals. The officiant who
presented the offerings often held it. In such cases the scepter was held in the right hand
and was waved four or five times over the offerings while ritual recitations were being
made. A gilded sekhem scepter was found in Tutankhamun's tomb. On the back of this
scepter were carved five registers depicting a slaughtered bull, which may indicate that
the scepter was waved five times over the offering. We are also told that, when
consecrating offerings, the king used two sekhem-scepters; one for Seth, and another for
Horus. Elsewhere, Horus and Seth appear as "the Two Sekhems" (shmwy).
Sometimes this type of scepter hieroglyph could have represented the sistrum, a musical
rattle that was sacred to Hathor and was carried by her priestesses. The sistrum had a
metal loop with jingles mounted on a cow goddess faced handle.
Resources:
Title Author Date Publisher
Reference
Number
Complete Gods and Goddesses of
Ancient Egypt, The
Wilkinson,
Richard H.
2003
Thames &
Hudson, LTD
ISBN 0-500-
05120-8
Dictionary of Ancient Egypt, The
Shaw, Ian;
Nicholson,
Paul
1995
Harry N. Abrams,
Inc., Publishers
ISBN 0-
8109-3225-3
Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and
Goddesses, A
Hart, George 1986 Routledge
ISBN 0-415-
05909-7
Egyptian Treasures from the
Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Tiradritti,
Francesco,
Editor
1999
Harry N. Abrams,
Inc.
ISBN 0-
8109-3276-8
Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient
Egypt, The
Redford,
Donald B.
(Editor)
2001
American
University in
Cairo Press, The
ISBN 977
424 581 4
Reading Egyptian Art: A
Hieroglyphic Guide to Ancient
Egyptian Painting and Sculpture
Wilkinson,
Richard H.
1992
Thames &
Hudson LTD
ISBN 0-300-
27751-6
Treasures of Tutankhamun
British
Museum
1972
Thames &
Hudson Ltd
ISBN 0
7230 0070 0