Kebechet Explained

Type:Egyptian
Kebechet
Hiero:W16-X1-I12*H6:R12
Symbol:Serpent
Parents:Anubis,[1] Anput

In Egyptian mythology, Kebechet (spelt in hieroglyphs as Qeb-Hwt, and also transliterated as Khebhut, Kebehut, Qébéhout, Kabehchet and Kebehwet) is a goddess, a deification of embalming liquid. Her name means cooling water.[2]

Myths

Kebechet is a daughter of Anubis and his wife Anput.[3] In the Pyramid Texts, Kebechet is referred to as a serpent who "refreshes and purifies" the pharaoh.

Kebechet was thought to give water to the spirits of the dead while they waited for the mummification process to be complete. She was probably related to mummification where she would fortify the body against corruption, so it would stay fresh for reanimation by the deceased's ka.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.egiptologia.org/mitologia/panteon/qebehut.htm Rosa Thode, El panteón egipcio, Qebehut en egiptologia.org
  2. Web site: Anubis, Ancient Egyptian God of Embalming and the Dead. seawright. caroline. www.thekeep.org. en. 2018-03-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20140108181614/http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/anubis.html. 2014-01-08. dead.
  3. [Richard H. Wilkinson]