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"I give you all life, stability, and dominion (Was)..."
In the hands of every major Egyptian deity and Pharaoh appears a long, straight staff with a forked tail and a stylized animal head. This is the Was Scepter (wꜣs). It is the quintessential symbol of authority, representing absolute power and dominion over the created world.
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A Creature of Chaos?
The head of the scepter is enigmatic. It features long, squared ears and a curved snout.
Most scholars identify this as the head of the Set Animal (a fabulous beast associated with the god Set). Set was the god of storms, deserts, and chaos. By holding this scepter, the Pharaoh or god demonstrates their control over chaos. It signifies that the dangerous forces of the universe have been tamed and harnessed to maintain order (Ma'at).
The Forked Base
The bottom of the staff always ends in a two-pronged fork.
- Practical Origin: It may have evolved from an ancient walking stick used to pin snakes to the ground, further emphasizing the theme of controlling danger.
- Cosmic Function: In mythology, the Was scepter was used to support the sky. It is often depicted as the pillars holding up the heavens, ensuring the separation of the sky (Nut) from the earth (Geb).
Life, Stability, Dominion
The Was Scepter is rarely seen alone in hieroglyphs or art. It forms a powerful triad with two other symbols:
Ankh
Life
Djed
Stability
Was
Power/Dominion
Together, "Ankh, Djed, Was" form a common blessing: "May you have all life, stability, and power." This formula is found on thousands of temple walls and royal monuments.