Demon Facts

Set

Set

AKA Seth, Sethu, Sheth, Sth, Setesh, Sutekh, Setan, Seteh, Setekh, Suty, Seth Merksamer

Set

Titles:

God of Fire, Destruction, Envy, Storms, Deserts, Foreigners, Chaos and Deceit

Culture:

Egyptian

Kin:

Geb (father), Nut (mother); Osiris, Isis, Nephthys (siblings); Anubis (son)

Appearance:

Like many Egyptian deities, Set resembles a human with a beast's head (cf. the falcon and canine heads of Horus and Anubis, respectively). His appearance is unique however in that his facial and cranial features do not parallel any singularly known creature. His features represent the amalgamation of an aardvark, donkey, jackal and fennec fox, known as the "Set animal."

Purpose/Role:

  • Set was not always regarded as an evil force, but rather was demonized due to two major issues
    • The betrayal, murder and dismemberment of his brother Osiris
    • His association with foreign oppressors (namely the Assyrian and Persian empires)
  • Usurped Osiris's throne and attempted to prevent his resurrection, but failed
    • Isis, wife of Osiris, reassembled her husband's corpse and resurrected him in time to conceive their son Horus
    • Horus then avenged his father through the murder and usurpation of Set in an attempt to restore Maat (cosmic order)
  • Associated with selfishness, envy, betrayal and the propagation of disorder
  • The Greeks equated Set with the monstrous Typhon, whom Zeus slaughtered