The Egyptian God Set holds a significant place as one of the oldest and most enigmatic Neteru Deities or Gods of the Ancient Egyptian Nile Valley Civilization in Kemet.
According to the Tera Neter Tile and historical evidence, Set’s origins can be traced back to the earliest known inhabitants of the Nile Valley, the Anu People, who established the Ta-Seti Civilization.
The Anu People, believed to be the earliest inhabitants of the Nile Valley region, settled in what is now modern-day Sudan. They laid the foundation for the Ta-Seti Civilization, which predates the well-known Pharaonic period. Ta-Seti, meaning “Land of the Bow,” was a term used to describe Southern (Upper) Egypt encompassing the areas between the First and Second Cataracts of the Nile River.
According to the Tera Neter Tile, a sacred text from ancient Kemet, Set is associated with the southern region. This tile serves as an important source of information about the Ancient Deities and their connections to different parts of Egypt. The presence of Set in Southern Egypt suggests his early association with the Anu People and the Ta-Seti Civilization of Pre-Dynastic Egypt.
This connection makes Set one of the oldest Deities in the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon of Kemet.
Set is often depicted as a creature with an animal-like head, typically that of a mythical creature called the Set animal, which combines elements of an aardvark, donkey, and jackal. The Set animal symbolizes wildness, strength, and ferocity. These characteristics are indicative of Set’s role as a powerful deity associated with the untamed forces of nature and metamorphosis.
The Predynastic period in Egypt refers to the time before the establishment of the First Pharaonic Dynasty.
This era witnessed the rise of early city-states, the development of agriculture, and the emergence of complex social structures.
Set’s presence during this period is evidenced by the discovery of artifacts, such as ivory figurines and pottery, depicting his iconic animal head. These artifacts suggest that Set was venerated by the inhabitants of these early Pre-Dynastic Anu settlements in Egypt, further solidifying Set’s status as an Ancient deity.
In Egyptian mythology, Set played a pivotal role as an agent of metamorphosis.
Set is an integral part of Ancient Kemet’s Ausarian Drama Hero Epic where Set was known for his role in the murder of his brother Ausar (Osiris).
In the story of Ausar, Auset and Heru, by killing Ausar (Osiris) Set is a metaphor for the natural forces that are necessary to bring about metamorphosis and resurrection in Nature.
From this perspective, instead of possessing negative connotations, embodying chaos, disorder, Set is actually an integral part of the principle of Maat or Balance in Kemetic Spirituality because Set represents the forces that must act to bring about change and usher in the reign of Maat through the Holy Trinity of Ancient Kemet symbolised by Ausar (Osiris), Auset (Isis) and Heru (Horus).
Conclusion
Set, is probably the oldest Ancient Egyptian Deity from Kemet because Set has been revered by the Anu Nile Valley Settlers who founded Egyptian Kemetic Civilization since the earliest days of human settlement along the Nile Valley in the Pre-Dynastic era of Egypt.
As such, Set holds a unique position as one of the oldest and most complex Deities in the Egyptian Pantheon in Kemet.
Through the evidence provided by the Tera Neter Tile, archaeological discoveries, and historical context, it becomes apparent that Set’s origins can be traced back to the earliest inhabitants of the Nile Valley, the Anu People, and their Ta-Seti Civilization.
In addition, Set’s symbolism and mythological significance as an agent of metamorphosis in the Ausarian Drama has endured over millennia, leaving an indelible mark on the Ancient civilization of Kemet in Egypt, and influencing cultural beliefs even to this day.
