Wosret, Wasret, or Wosyet meaning the powerful was an Egyptian goddess with a cult centre at Thebes. She was initially a localised guardian goddess, whose cult arose widely during the stable twelfth dynasty when three pharaohs were named as her sons: Senwosret - the man (son) of Wosret, also spelled as Senusret. She was rarely depicted and no temples for her have been identified.

When she was depicted, it was wearing a tall crown with the Was scepter upon her head, which was related to her name, and carrying other weapons such as a spear and a bow and arrows. The hieroglyph for the Was is displayed to the right.

The scepter upon her head was a symbol of power and dominion thought to be derived from cattle herding cultures that arose in Egypt during 8,000 B.C. The staff may have depicted the penis bone of her son, the bull.

She later was superseded by Mut and became an aspect of Hathor. She also was identified with the protection of the god Horus when he was young. Some scholars identify her as an early counterpart to the god Amun, who was later superseded by Mut.

References

Michael Jordon, Encyclopedia of Gods, Kyle Cathie Limited, 2002

see also

• Amunet