Henet

**Henet**


 * Meaning of Name:**

"Pelican"


 * Titles:**

"Mother of the King"

That this mysterious goddess is a divinity must be assumed from the reference to her in the Pyramid Texts as the "Mother of the King," a role which in religious documents can only be ascribed to a goddess. In funerary papyri Henet has the power of prophesying a safe passage for a dead person traveling through the Duat - "The mouth of the Pelican is opened for me. The Pelican has caused that I shall go forth during the day to every place where I wish to go." Pelicans in ancient Egypt were holy creatures, protectors of the dead, and were worshiped in sun temples. Since "Henet" is very close to the ancient Egyptian word for "queen" (//Hent//), it is possible that Henet was thought to be the Queen of Egypt as a divinity, similar to how the Pharaoh was identified as Horus. //Henut// was also the term for a priestess.


 * Egyptian Names Honoring This Deity:**

Henetkhune, Henetdjuu, Henetwat, Henetyunu, Henetwedjebu, Henetutsen, Henettawy, Henet-meryt ("Beloved of Pelican"), Henet-nefer ("Beautiful of Pelican")

Egyptian Deities - H