Sekhmet
Pomegranate, Sumac, Ginger, and Beer Ice Pops
Sekhmet, meaning powerful one or she who is powerful, is on of the oldest known Egyptian deities. She is recognizable by her lion head and woman’s body and is often depicted with a sun disc atop her head and an ankh of life or papyrus scepter in her hands. Sometimes Sekhmet was connected as the protector side of Hathor the goddess of joy, music, dance, sexual love, pregnancy, and birth. On one hand, she was associated with the heat of the midday sun, called “the flame,” and was able to send plagues towards those who upset her. But on the other hand, Sekhmet could be called “lady of life” as patroness to physicians and healers, and guarder of balance and justice.
One such instance when her love of justice was tested when the sun god Ra grew outraged at humans’ disregard of justice. To teach them a lesson, he sent Sekhmet to rampage earth. As the fields began to run with blood, Ra decided he had crossed a line. Yet, Sekhmet, having gotten a taste for human blood, would not listen to orders telling her to cease her killing. Ra’s solution was to dump in her path 7,000 jugs of beer died red with pomegranate juice. Sekhmet, thinking that this was blood, consumed it all, becoming very intoxicated and fell into a three-day-long sleep. Afterwards, her bloodlust was gone and balance was restored to humanity.
