Shezmu
Shezmu is an Egyptian god who appears in the Cannibal Hymn of the Unas Pyramid as one of five bloodthirsty helpers. These helpers were placed in the sky, likely based on constellations or other celestial phenomena, and are considered messengers of death sent forth by the deceased.
↻ synthesized from 4 sources
When
- First attested
- 3000 BCE
- Attested period
- -3000 – 300
- Historical notes
- Named in the Cannibal Hymn of the Unas Pyramid as part of a group of five bloodthirsty helpers placed in the sky.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Shezmetet, Meret, Nebnerou, Peteese, Pihor, Ruty, Shemanefer, Mnevis, Sah, Kolanthes, Irer, Sedjem, Igai, Ḥutchai, Qebui, Shehbui, Khenti-kheti, Petbe, Rem, Rekhyt, Sepa, Maga, Imsety, Kemwer, Khenti-Amentiu, Khesfu, Kneph, Mau, Nefer Hor, Nekheny, Pataikos, Sahekek, Sebeg, Sed, Sekhemus, Sepes, Septu, Seta-Ta, Setcheh, Setem, Sed, Ammit, Horus, Kherty, Mandulis, Sebiumeker, Serapis, Resheph, Nemty, Neferhotep, Jupiter Ammon, Medjed, Nehebkau, Qebehsenuef, Ihy, Panebtawy, Ra-Horakhty, Kothar-wa-Khasis, Mehen, Shepsy, Iah, Tayt, Shu, Renenutet
- allied with
- The Seizer of Heads, The One with his head raised, The One Above the Redness, Khonshu, Hedjhotep, Ra
- enemy of
- Apep
- aspect of
- Nefertum
- has aspect
- Nefertum
Mentioned by
- Ammit
- Horus
- Kherty
- Mandulis
- Sebiumeker
- Serapis
- Resheph
- Nemty
- Neferhotep
- Jupiter Ammon
- Medjed
- Nehebkau
- Qebehsenuef
- Ihy
- Panebtawy
- Ra-Horakhty
and 9 more
Sources
Source passages
“Khonsu is named as a member of a group of demons composed of three unknown deities...as well as the god Shezmu. These five bloodthirsty helpers were placed in the sky, likely based on constellations or other celestial phenomena.”
#19328 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5
“Shezmu was a god with a contradictory personality. On one hand, he was lord of perfume, maker of all precious oil, lord of the oil press, lord of ointments and lord of wine. He was a celebration deity, like the goddess Meret.”
#24590 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Shezmu – A god of wine, blood, and oil presses who also slaughters condemned souls”
#24922 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5
“He is invoked with Shezmu, the god of the preparation of unguents, in the treatment of headache and stomach-ache, and in the making of amulets where he is in charge of their cords.”
#37447 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001