Goddess Seshat and Ancient Public History: She Who Presides Over Words, Wisdom, and Historical Records

Reading and writing were for men, but Seshat was the only female scribe and she held sway in their domains. Seshat was thought to manage the domain of all libraries and this would include the ancient Library of Alexandria. There was a terrible fire that destroyed most of the books, which were in the fragile form of scrolls, but in her role as Lady of Books, Chief Librarian, and the Mistress of the House of Life, she would have been a spiritual overseer of this historic place.

Activities at the Library of Alexandria (from the NY Public Library or Library of Congress)

The Library of Alexandria today is a symbolic homage of the knowledge lost ancient times and is grand inside and out.

Photo Credit: CPQ/Shutterstock.com

Sources

Corven, O. Von. "English: 'The Great Library of Alexandria.'" Wikimedia Commons, 1850. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancientlibraryalex.jpg.

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Official caption, image one: The Library of Alexandria, 1876. Artist: Anonymous. © Fine Art Images/Heritage Images. Image credit: Heritage Image Partnership Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo.

Library of Alexandria

The Library of Alexandria, 1876. Artist: Anonymous.

Image credit: Heritage Image Partnership Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Goddess Seshat and Ancient Public History:

She Who Presides Over
Words,
Wisdom,
and Historical Records

Library of Alexandria

Meet Goddess Seshat

Goddess Seshat at a Glance

Ancient Public Historian

Seshat in Egyptian Temples

Seshat in Museums

Seshat in Archives and Libraries

Modern Scribes

Seshat as a Star Goddess

Thank You!

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