Set - Ancient Egyptian God of the Desert, Darkness and Chaos
Set was pictured with the head of a dog-like animal known as the Sha.
Illustration by Christa Galloway
Set was known as the Lord of the Red Land.
Set was called the Lord of the Red Land, referring to the red sand of the desert, representing everything wild and dangerous that existed outside the safe, green farmlands along the Nile River.
He murdered his brother.
In Egyptian mythology, Set became jealous of his brother Osiris. He tricked Osiris into lying down in a casket and threw the casket into the Nile. Later, to prevent Osiris from being resurrected, Set dismembered his body and scattered the pieces.
The beast that represents Set is a mystery.
Set was pictured with the head of a dog-like animal that no one can identify. Some scholars think it might have been an extinct animal, while others believe it was a mythical creature created just for Set. It is known as the Sha, or the Set Animal.
Set represented the opposite of order.
While other gods like Ma'at stood for truth and harmony, Set represented chaos, storms, and everything that could go wrong in the world.
Set had a heroic side.
Despite being the god of chaos and disorder, Set once helped protect Ra's solar boat from the serpent Apophis during its nightly journey through the underworld, ensuring the sun would rise the next day.
