Mainly for one of the myths involving Isis or Horus and I don’t know I just??? nope I don’t feel comfortable/safe with Him.
It may not be a great idea to post this in the general kemetic tag, as it’s a bit awkward to see someone posting things about a deity you love in a way that implies negative things. (Eg., that seth is evil in this case).
However, with Seth, he is an important figure amongst the Netjeru. Many of the gods have done things that when we take out of context (eg., what we do when we look at the myths in a modern perspective) that we see as bad. However, if you do not try to view the gods in a way that the Ancients would have, you are going to have to exclude a fair number of the pantheon, let alone, a lot of pagan gods.
For the Netjeru, off the top of my hand, Sekhmet (murder), Seth (rape/murder), Geb (rape), Osiris (torture -> Set, Horit), Isis (torture -> Horit), Anubis (Murder and skinning of Set in the form of a leopard). If you are willing to put in the leg work, these texts explain the good side of Seth, and the first one explains how he was before he was demonized: Seth, A Misrepresented God in the Egyptian Pantheon? Te Velde’s Seth, God of Confusion, Seth, God of Power and Might.
Seth plays an important role now protecting Re and the other Netjeru from the evil serpent A//phofis. He’s the only one strong enough to stop the serpent.
He was demonized after the Hyksos were driven out. They had adopted him as their god and it did not sit well with the population, and the Greeks did not help much by comparing him to Typhon. Again, Seth, A Misrepresented God in the Egyptian Pantheon explains it pretty well.
Before that many Kings and royal women would make mention to Seth & Horus uniting together to serve as both divine kings.
The most famous of these kings, the Ramesses family took Set as their patron god. Seti means “man of Set.”
He even answered a King’s prayers (to repel invaders) and saved another goddess.
Complete List of Ancient Gods and Godesses
He’s also known to help the dead in the form of a ladder.
SET WAS SAID TO BE A FRIEND OF THE DEAD, HELPING THEM TO ASCEND TO HEAVEN ON HIS LADDER (MAQET), AND THE CROWNER OF PHARAOHS AND LEADER OF WARRIORS. SET BECAME THE PATRON DEITY OF SOLDIERS, WHO OFTEN WORE SET AMULETS MADE OF BRONZE OR FAIENCE, HOPING TO ACQUIRE SET’S STRENGTH AND PROTECTION. THE WARRIOR-KING TUTHMOSIS III CALLED HIMSELF “BELOVED OF SET.” SET WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE LORD OF METALS – IRON, THE HARDEST METAL KNOWN TO THE EGYPTIANS, WAS CALLED THE “BONES OF SET.” SET WAS INVOKED FOR FERTILITY – HE OFTEN APPEARS ON UTERINE AMULETS TO EITHER OPEN OR CLOSE THE WOMB. LIKE ANUBIS, THE WORSHIP OF SET PREDATES THAT OF BOTH HORUS AND OSIRIS.
Assman, Mind of Egypt. Seth & Horus working together. They fight the evil serpent together too.
Te Velde, Seth, God of Confusion.
Also, please note the last paragraph, where a queen takes the title of Horus-Seth.
I’m not trying to attack you, but when someone posts things about gods it hits a sore spot for me. I took the time to write this up and find the pictures for you, not to embarass you but to try and show you a different side of Seth that I don’t think you’ve seen.
A solid defense of Set!
I might add for op: you’ve expressed discomfort with the mythology before. If this is not something you’re able to work through, this might not be the right path for you.
There are certain themes in mythology that I am uncomfortable with not mythology as a whole. There was a lovely response here that soothed my concerns with such things.
It upsets me to see someone say it might not be the right path for me because I expressed certain discomfort in some themes in it. I also expressed I really want to learn more and work through it. Which, because of some responses, has certainly helped.
I’d like to emphasis the last point on the thread I posted which states I am allowed to feel uncomfortable with certain deities. And Seth is one of them, though i do respect his role definitely.
Set made me uncomfortable at first too and now he’s super important to me. Perhaps you’ll work through it, perhaps not. Either way is perfectly fine. It takes time to explore a new religion and the feelings it brings, keep on learning and see where it may lead. 🙂
This whole post makes my heart sing. 💖💖. I’m so glad it popped up on my dash. I now have a great reference post to share with people who give me that “isn’t Set bad?” when I tell them I work with Him. B L E S S.
Id like to also point out to the lovely OP that you’re completely valid in your feelings no matter the deity. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. Just because you’re uncomfortable with a deity of the pantheon, doesn’t mean it’s the wrong path, either. You don’t have to work with Set to work with others in the pantheon. (That would essentially mean that some of us were in the wrong path, too! Myself included, and I know it’s far from the wrong path. You know yourself best. 💖💖)
I equate Him with The Tower card in the tarot—as I’m sure others do as well. It’s a scary card but it represents much needed change to help better your growth. So essentially, it’s not all bad. Set represents change, and change can be quite uncomfortable. It’s totally fair to feel the way you do.
As long as there’s respect—which, you said you do—I don’t see a problem with how uncomfortable you are. Maybe one day, it’ll change. 😉😉
Goldnwulf 