Heka
Mythology of
Heka
For the
Egyptians, heka or 'magic' was a divine force which existed
in the universe like 'power' or 'strength' and which could
be personified in the form of god Heka. Mythologically, heka
was believed to have existed from the time of creation and
to have empowered the creation even so that the god Heka
could likewise be seen as a creator god. At Esna, although
doubtless based on a late popular etymology, his name is
thus explained as 'the first work'. Magic empowered all the
Egyptian gods, and Heka was also a god of power whose name
was tied to this meaning from the 20th Dynasty onward by
being written emblematically with the hieroglyph for
'power', although originally the god's name may have meant
'hewho consecrates the ka', and he is called 'Lord of the
kas' in the Coffin Texts (CT 261). Because of his great
power the Pyramid Texts make it clear that Heka was feared
by the Egyptian gods themselves (PT 472), and he was said to
accompany the sun god in his barque as well as to protect
the god Osiris in the underworld.
Iconography of
Heka
Invariably portrayed in
anthropomorphic form, Heka was usually represented as a man,
with the usual garb and curved beard of the gods.In the Late
Period, however, Heka was venerated in the form of a child -
as were several other male deities - and was thus shown
accompanying various divine couples as their 'son' in a
number of representations.
Worship of Heka
Like most deities
representing areas or aspects of the cosmos, Heka was not
served by a regular cult, though his role in religion was of
cosiderable importance. He was naturally invoked in many
magico-religious contexts and at Esna in Roman times, for
example, a statue of the god was taken in procession from
the temple through the surrounding fields to ensure their
productivity. Heka also played a role in afterlife beliefs.
Because he was viewed as a god of inestimable power, the
Pyramid Textst directly claim his authority (PT 539) and the
Coffin Texts contain a spell 'to become the god Heka' (CT
261).
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