Wadjet, goddess of Egypt

Who was Wadjet?
Wadjet was the Egyptian cobra goddess and protector of Egypt and the Pharaohs who 'spat poison at tomb robbers.

Facts about Wadjet
The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Wadjet:
 

Wadjet in Egyptian Mythology - The Protector Cobra Goddess
Wadjet, the Egyptian cobra goddess, featured in the stories, myths and legends in Egyptian Mythology. She was a fierce war-like protector of the Pharaohs and the armies of Egypt and like the cobra, was known for fighting, rather than retreating. Wadjet, the cobra goddess was ready to strike and kill the enemies of Egypt. Her headdress always included the Uraeus, the rearing cobra symbol, that represented the absolute power and authority of the gods and the Egyptian monarchy. Her headdress also sometimes depicted the Red Crown (Deshret) of Lower Egypt (north) as shown in the famous following picture of the 'eye'. 

Wadjet in Egyptian Mythology - The Eye of Ra
There are several names are applied to the 'eye' symbol: the Eye of Horus, the All-seeing Eye, the Eye of Ra or simply the Wadjet. According to one of the legends told in ancient mythology Wadjet  was the daughter of Atum-Ra, the solar god of creation and the 'father' of the Pharaohs. In the legend the god Shu, the son of Atum, disappeared. Atum created Wadjet to act as his eye and to search the Universe for his lost son. Wadjet found Shu and Atum was so happy to see them that he cried. The tears cried by Atum made humans. Atum rewarded Wadjet by giving her the form of a cobra so that she would be feared and respected by all who beheld her. The Uraeus, the Wadjet symbol of the rearing cobra, said to spit fire at the enemies of Egypt, was henceforth became part of the Royal crowns of Egypt. In the picture of the 'eye' the snake goddess Wadjet is depicted as a cobra and another goddess, called Nekhbet, is depicted as a vulture. Together these goddesses were called the 'Two Ladies' and were the protectors of Egypt.

Wadjet and the 'Two Ladies'
Wadjet was originally the goddess of the red crown of Lower Egypt (north) and Nekhbet was the white vulture goddess of the white crown of Upper Egypt (south). Following the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt Wadjet was paired with Nekhbet, the white vulture goddess and the goddesses were referred to as the "Two Ladies". In Ancient Egyptian texts, the term 'Two Ladies' is a religious euphemism for Wadjet and Nekhbet, who represent the unification of Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. The role of Wadjet was seen as a forceful defender whilst the role of Nekhebet, was seen as a meeker and motherly defender of Egypt. The following picture of the Two Ladies, as protective winged goddesses, adorns the ceiling of a temple in Kom Ombo (Ombus). Wadjet wears the Red Crown (Deshret) of Lower Egypt (north) and Nekhebet wears the White Atef crown of Upper Egypt (south).

Pictures of the 'Two Ladies' - Wadjet and Nekhbet
The 'Two Ladies', Wadjet and Nekhbet, were often depicted together as illustrated in the following bas relief's.

The Lion form of Wadjet
As time passed Wadjet became identified with the cat goddess Bast (Bastet) and the two goddesses were merged as Wadjet-Bast. In this aspect she was often depicted with the head of a lioness which combined the fierce attributes of a lion and the deadly cobra and was revered for her powers of protection and her skills as a fierce combatant. 
 

Wadjet as the Lioness Goddesses Wadjet was primarily a cobra goddess, similar in some respects to Meretseger, but she was also depicted in her aspect of a lion-headed goddess. The pictures of the statuettes of Wadjet show her in this guise but her cobra symbol is also included combining the attributes of both the lion and the cobra increasing her powers of protection and highlighting her skills as a fierce combatant. Wadjet and the Lioness Goddesses Many of their ancient gods were subsumed (meaning absorbed) into new gods and goddesses. The practice of creating new deities by combining them with old gods is called 'syncretism', meaning the fusion of religious beliefs and practices to form a new system. This was the case with Wadjet, Bastet and then Sekhmet, the warrior goddess of Upper Egypt (south). The Decline of Wadjet and Rise of Mut When Memphis became the new capital of Egypt its leaders and priests justified its status by developing a new creation myth and the Triad of Memphis (Ptah, Sekhmet and Nefertem) came into prominence. In the period known as the New Kingdom Wadjet was eventually 'absorbed' by the powerful Mother goddess Mut. Mut is often depicted wearing the Royal Vulture Crown consisting of a feather headdress with its wings spread round her head in the act of protection, adorned by a Uraeus - the symbols of the 'Two Ladies'.