Wepwawet, Lord of Abydos and Champion of Royalty: Jubilees, Worship and Resurrection—Part II
From being a god with militaristic overtones, in time, Wepwawet was hailed as the ‘Lord of the Necropolis’, a role he acquired from Osiris, at his cult centers in Abydos and later Asyut too. A complex deity, Wepwawet catered to different needs – such as protection of the pharaoh, a participant in the ‘Opening of the Mouth’ ceremony; as the ‘Opener of the Ways’ in the Duat (Netherworld); ‘Opener of the Womb’ as the first-born and so on. Along with Anubis, his father (or sibling), the deity ensured the all-round wellness of king and commoner alike – both here on earth and in the Afterlife.
This relief shows Wepwawet embracing Seti I as the King journeys to the Next World; the vulture goddess Nekhbet hovers above protectively (top right). The scene is found on the western wall of the Second Hypostyle Hall; between the chapels of Isis and Osiris. Mortuary Temple of Seti I, Abydos.
