Bust from an Enthroned Statue of Sakhmet in the Brooklyn Museum, August 2007

Bust from an Enthroned Statue of Sakhmet
Granodiorite
New Kingdom, Dynasty XVIII, reign of Amunhotep III (circa 1390-1352 BC)
From Thebes

Accession # 1991.311

The goddess Sakhmet, whose name means "The Powerful One", was worshiped at least as early as the Old Kingdom. In the New Kingdom she became the wife of Ptah, chief god of the Lower Egyptian capital of Memphis. She also became closely associated with Mut, wife of Amun, king of the gods at the Upper Egyptian capital of Thebes. Together these goddesses could represent the unity of Upper and Lower Egypt, conceived of as a duality.

Text from the Brooklyn Museum label.