Sepa (Egyptian mythology)
| Sepa in hieroglyphics | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| written out |
Sepa Sp3 God of the Dead / Millipede |
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Sepa (German: thousand feet ) is an Egyptian god who was depicted as a type of millipede.
Zoological interpretation
According to information from zoologists are specially around the throughout the Mediterranean occurring European Giant runners ( Scolopendra cingulata Latreille), a type of centipede (Chilopoda). This animal, which is up to 15 centimeters long, can kill its prey with the help of two poisonous grippers and also inflict painful bites on larger living beings. As one of the few arthropods , the animal will attack when threatened.
Its meaning
Sepa was revered as a helper against evil animals, especially in Heliopolis . In his function as god of the dead, he was associated with Osiris at an early age . Together with the scarab and the scorpion of the goddess Selket , Sepa is one of the few arthropods that are worshiped as sacred . In addition to his representation as an invertebrate animal, he was also shown with a donkey's head or horns.
literature
- H. Levinson & A. Levinson 2004, Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau 57th year, issue 3.
- Hermann Kees : Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprach und Altertumskunde (ZÄS) 58, 1923, pp. 82–90.