Limestone stela of Aapehty

Probably from Deir el-Medina, Egypt
Later 19th Dynasty, around 1200 BC

A workman adoring the god Seth

This stela is one of many dedicated to various deities revered by the workmen of Deir el-Medina. Aapehty was the deputy of the gang of workmen who cut and decorated the royal tombs. He was the son of the foreman Paneb, who was accused of several crimes. A list of charges against Paneb is written down on the Salt Papyrus in The British Museum.

On this stela the god Seth is shown in his classic form: as a man with the head of a composite creature that Egyptologists call the 'Seth animal'. This strange animal was thought to personify storms, confusion, even evil. Nonetheless, Seth could also be worshipped as a beneficent god, as in this example. Aapehty may have had a connection with the god since his name means 'great of strength' which is one of Seth's epithets. The cult of Seth was particularly strong on the Eastern Delta border of Egypt. The Nineteenth-Dynasty kings with the name Sety, who came from that area, are named after Seth.

G. Pinch, Magic in Ancient Egypt (London, The British Museum Press, 1994)

S. Quirke, Ancient Egyptian religion (London, The British Museum Press, 1992)

M.L. Bierbrier (ed.), Hieroglyphic texts from Egyp-6, Part 10 (London, The British Museum Press, 1982)

M.L. Bierbrier, The tomb-builders of the Phara (London, The British Museum Press, 1982)

S. Quirke and A.J. Spencer, The British Museum book of anc (London, The British Museum Press, 1992)