Wadjet

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Wadjet (Wadjyt or Edjo) was one of the oldest Egyptian goddesses. Archaeologists have found traces of her worship already in the Predynastic Period, but her role changed during the Pharaonic era.

Initially, she was the local goddess of Per-Wadjet (Buto), but by the end of the Predynastic Period, Wadjet was considered to be the personification of Lower Egypt.  Wadjet almost always appeared with her sister Nekhbet (representing Upper Egypt), and together, they symbolized the country as a unified whole. The two goddesses appear in the ‘Nebty’ (one of the pharaoh’s names, also known as ‘The two ladies’), indicating that the king ruled over both parts of Egypt.

According to the ‘Pyramid Texts’, Wadjet created the first papyrus plant and primordial swamp. Wadjet was one of the goddesses given the title ‘Eye of Ra’ (connecting her to Bast, Hathor, Sekhmet, and Tefnut - among others). In fact, the ‘Eye of Ra’ symbol was often called ‘The Wedjat’. (See Eye of Ra)