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This talk investigates the ancient Egyptian belief which deems Sakhmet and decans as the cause of contagious diseases and epidemics. Sakhmet is a lioness goddess who is associated with plagues due to her epithet “Sakhmet in the year of pestilence” (Sḫm.t-m-rnp.t-iꜣd.t); while decans are the 36 stars or constellations which rise at one-hour interval throughout the course of one year. Since the reign of Amenhotep III (1400-1350 BCE), decans have frequently appeared together with Sakhmet, as the goddess’ disease-carrying emissaries.

Although the connection between plagues and Sakhmet is well-established in Egyptology, few discussions focus on demonstrating how people from different social groups interacted with this religious/cultural belief. My presentation examines the materials pertaining to Sakhmet and decans which are dated between the late 2nd millennium BCE to Antiquity. My analysis aims to show how the state, local communities, specialists, and ordinary people derived different strategies from the same cultural belief; and how these varied approaches were employed together to attempt at controlling epidemic outbreaks.

For instance, Amenhotep III dedicated hundreds of statues to Sakhmet in exchange for a propitious reign. Several centuries later, the same iconography was made into faience amulets which were designed to offer the general public the same level of protection. These amulets were not the only defense which the population had against contagious diseases. Textual evidence from the 1st millennium BCE Thebes (Luxor) indicates that an individual could gain additional protection by seeking an Oracular Amuletic Decree from Mut, a leonine goddess closely associated with Sakhmet. In these Oracular Amuletic Decrees, Mut declares protection of the patron from all sorts of malignant forces, including epidemic diseases. Besides these various amulets, specialists like medico-magical practitioners would have played an essential role in containing the spread of diseases. Medical treatises and bio-archaeological evidence suggest that the medical practitioners in ancient Egypt had some experience dealing with highly contagious diseases like Tuberculosis. Although the medical treatises contain little information about how to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, it is reasonable to assume that the practitioners had some knowledge on this issue, thanks to the recent discovery of a makeshift crematorium at Thebes (Luxor). This temporary establishment was set up at the site of a tomb complex during an epidemic outbreak in the 3rd century CE. In the courtyard, the local community converted several niches into kilns for disposing the plague victims’ remains.

In brief, the wealth of textual and archaeological evidence from ancient Egypt affords us a unique opportunity to investigate how different social groups reacted to epidemic diseases and outbreaks. My presentation is only the first step towards tackling this multi-layered and highly nuanced question.