Joan Lansberry

Images of Set: Changing Impressions of a Multi-Faceted God Joan Lansberry

The god Set (aka Seth) has been much of a puzzle to Egyptologists. If we go with the attitude of later Egyptians, we find Set blamed for every misfortune that can befall humanity. However, if we go with the attitude of earlier times, in particular the Ramesside period, when Egypt was at its peak in prosperity, we find a completely different picture. For we find a god who was very much adored. Most of the surviving imagery is from that period, although even in Ptolemaic and Roman times we occasionally find a piece that was a part of worship and magical rites. Set was always seen as 'Great of Power', even when he was feared. Putting all his imagery together, placing it in chronological context, sheds new light on the Dark god.