Seth, also known as Set, is an Egyptian god whose name means "one who establishes". It is often associated with violence, brute force and war, as well as drought and storms. His nickname, "the destroyer", reflects this image of power and destruction.
In iconography, Seth is represented as a hybrid animal, with the body of a man and the head of an animal, often a wild animal like a lion or a crocodile. It can also be represented as an animal in its own right, such as a hippopotamus or a snake. Its associated color is red, a symbol of violence and anger.
Seth is the brother of Osiris and Isis, and the son of Geb, the god of the earth, and Nut, the goddess of the sky. In some versions of the myth, he kills his brother Osiris out of jealousy and ambition, which sets him in opposition to most other Egyptian gods.
Her role in Egyptian myths is complex and often ambiguous. Although considered an important and revered god at times in Egyptian history, he is also associated with negative and evil forces. In the myth of the death of Osiris, Seth represents chaos and disunity, while Osiris embodies order and unity.
Seth's interactions with the other gods are often confrontational. In the myth of the death of Osiris, Seth is the main antagonist, opposing Horus, the son of Osiris and Isis, in a battle for the throne of Egypt. In other myths, Seth is represented as a protective god, defending the solar bark of the god Ra against the forces of chaos.
In sum, Seth is a complex and controversial god of Egyptian mythology, associated with violence and chaos, but also with protection and defense against negative forces. His symbolism and iconography reflect this duality, making him a fascinating and mysterious figure in Egyptian history.
His legend in the myth of Osiris
In ancient times, the gods ruled the Egyptian lands and mortals feared their divine power. Among them was the god Seth, the younger brother of Osiris and his sister and wife Isis. Seth was known for his brute strength and impulsive nature, which often sowed discord and destruction.
One day, Seth began to sow jealousy in him towards his brother Osiris. This brother loved by all for his wisdom and kindness. Seth began to devise a plan to seize power and overthrow Osiris. He held a banquet in honor of Osiris and his friends, where he offered a challenge to anyone who could enter a jeweled chest. Of course, this chest was actually a trap, and as soon as Osiris entered, Seth sealed it inside and threw it into the Nile.
Isis, in despair over her husband's disappearance, traveled through Egypt looking for his body. Eventually, she found him in Byblos, where the chest had washed ashore. Weeping, Isis returned to Egypt with the body of Osiris. Seth, however, could not bear the resurrection of Osiris and decided to dismember his body into pieces which he scattered throughout Egypt.
Isis and her son Horus, the falcon god, set out to search for the pieces of Osiris, gradually reassembling each part of his body. When everything was put together, Isis used her magic to reunite the pieces and so her husband was brought back to life. But back from the dead, Osiris no longer wished to reign, he no longer had any taste nor enough desire with regard to the stakes of power. He therefore decided to leave and leaving the throne of Egypt to his son Horus.
Horus, having seen Seth's actions, swore revenge for the fate that the god of chaos had reserved for his father. Horus challenged Seth to a fight, but neither was able to achieve victory over the other. Finally, the decision was made to appear before a divine tribunal, to resolve their dispute.
The tribunal, made up of the greatest gods of Egypt, listened to the arguments of both parties. Finally, the god Thot, the wisest and most just of all the gods, offered a compromise: Seth should give some of his power to Horus and let him rule over part of Egypt. Seth agreed, and Horus became the new king of Egypt, with Seth as a vassal.
Thus, peace returned to the kingdom of the gods, but Seth kept his grudge against Horus. He always sought to challenge and confront Horus to regain his former power. Eventually, Horus triumphed one last time over Seth and peace reigned definitively in Egypt.
Since then, Seth has been considered an evil god, representing violence and destruction. He is often associated with lightning and storms, and feared for his unpredictable nature.
His story in pictures
Egyptian deities other than Seth