Heka (god)

Ancient Egyptian deity

Not to be confused with Heqet, Heqa, or Hecate.

Heka

Heka, depicted wearing a Hemhem crown and sidelock, carrying a crook and flail and ankh.

Name in hieroglyphs| Egyptian: ḥkꜣw|  | |
| |

|
|
|

or |

Major cult centre| Esna
Genealogy
Parents|

* Khnum (father)
* Neith, Mehet-Weret, Menhit, or Nebetu'u (mother)

Part of a series on

Ancient Egyptian religion

Beliefs

* Afterlife
* Creation myths
* Isfet
* Maat
* Maa Kheru
* Mythology
* Numerology
* Osiris myth
* Philosophy
* Soul

Practices

* Canopic jars
* Embalming ritual
* Funerals
* Mortuary temples
* Offering formula
* Opening of the mouth
* Pyramids
* Temples
* Veneration of the dead

Deities (list)

| Ogdoad|

* Amun and Amunet
* Heh and Hauhet
* Kek and Kauket
* Nu and Naunet

|

Ennead|

* Atum
* Geb
* Isis
* Nephthys
* Nut
* Osiris
* Set
* Shu
* Tefnut

Triads|

* Theban Triad
* Elephantine Triad

* Aani
* Aati
* Abaset
* Abtu
* Ahmose-Nefertari
* Aker
* Akhty
* Amenhotep, son of Hapu
* Amesemi
* Am-heh
* Ammit
* Amu-Aa
* Anat
* Andjety
* Anput
* Anubis
* Anuket
* Apedemak
* Apesh
* Apis
* Apophis
* Aqen
* Arensnuphis
* Arsinoe II
* Ash
* Assessors of Maat
* Astarte
* Aten

* Baal
* Baalat Gebal
* Babi
* Banebdjedet
* Ba-Pef
* Bastet
* Bat
* Bata
* Bennu
* Bes
* Beset
* Buchis

* Cavern deities of the underworld
* Celestial Ferrymana

* Dedun
* Dionysus-Osiris
* Djedefhor
* Duamutef
* Duau

* Gate deities of the underworld
* Gengen-Wer

* Ha
* Hapi
* Hapy
* Harmachis
* Harpocrates
* Harsomtus
* Hathor
* Hatmehit
* Hauron
* Hedetet
* Hedjhotep
* Heka
* Hemen
* Hemsut
* Henet
* Henkhisesui
* Heqaib
* Heqet
* Hermanubis
* Hermes Trismegistus
* Heru-ur
* Heryshaf
* Hery-maat
* Hesat
* Horus
* Hu
* Hutchai

* Iabet
* Iah
* Iat
* Igai
* Ihy
* Ikhemu-sek
* Imentet
* Imhotep
* Imsety
* Ipy
* Irer
* Ishtar
* Iunit
* Iusaaset

* Jupiter Ammon

* Kagemni I
* Kebechet
* Khensit
* Khenti-Amentiu
* Khenti-kheti
* Khepri
* Khereduankh
* Kherty
* Khnum
* Khonsu
* Kneph
* Kolanthes
* Kothar-wa-Khasis

* Maahes
* Maat
* Mafdet
* Mandulis
* Medjed
* Mehen
* Mehet-Weret
* Mehit
* Menhit
* Meret
* Meretseger
* Meskhenet
* Min
* Mnevis
* Montu
* Mut

* Nebethetepet
* Nebnerou
* Nebtuwi
* Nefertem
* Nehebkau
* Nehmetawy
* Neith
* Nekhbet
* Nemty
* Neper
* Nepit

* Onuris

* Pakhet
* Panebtawy
* Perit
* Petbe
* Peteese
* Pihor
* Ptah
* Ptahhotep

* Qebehsenuef
* Qebui
* Qed-her
* Qetesh

* Ra
* Raet-Tawy
* Rekhyt
* Rem
* Renenutet
* Renpet
* Renpetneferet
* Repyt
* Resheph
* Ruty

* Sah
* Satis
* Sebiumeker
* Sedjem
* Sekhmet
* Sepa
* Serapis
* Serket
* Seshat
* Shai
* Shed
* Shehbui
* Shemanefer
* Shepsy
* Shesmetet
* Shezmu
* Sia
* Sobek
* Sokar
* Sopdet
* Sopdu
* Souls of Pe and Nekhen

* Ta-Bitjet
* Tatenen
* Taweret
* Tayt
* Teka-her
* Thoth
* Tjenenyet
* Tutu

* Unut

* Wadjet
* Wadj-wer
* Weneg
* Wepset
* Wepwawet
* Werethekau
* Wosret

* Yam

Creatures

* Akhekh
* Apshait
* Criosphinx
* Griffin
* Hieracosphinx
* Medjed
* Serpopard
* Set animal
* Sphinx
* Uraeus

Characters

* Djedi
* Djadjaemankh
* Rededjet
* Ubaoner

Locations

* Aaru
* Akhet
* Benben
* Duat
* Lake of fire
* Land of Manu
* The Indestructibles

Symbols and objects

* Ankh
* Anra scarab
* Atef
* Cartouche
* Cowroid
* Corn mummy
* Crook and flail
* Crown of justification
* Deshret
* Djed
* Egyptian obelisk
* Egyptian pool
* Eye of Horus
* Eye of Ra
* Hedjet
* Hemhem crown
* Hennu
* Horus on the Crocodiles
* Hypocephalus
* Imiut fetish
* Khepresh
* Kneph
* Menat
* Modius
* Nebu
* Nemes
* Neshmet
* Ouroboros
* Pschent
* Scarab
* Seqtet boat
* Serekh
* Shen ring
* Solar barque
* Tyet
* Ushabti
* Vulture crown
* Was-sceptre
* Winged sun

Writings

* Amduat
* Books of Breathing
* Book of Caverns
* Book of the Dead
* Book of the Earth
* Book of Gates
* Book of the Heavenly Cow
* Book of Traversing Eternity
* Coffin Texts
* The Contendings of Horus and Seth
* Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld
* Festival Songs of Isis and Nephthys
* Great Hymn to the Aten
* Litany of the Eye of Horus
* Litany of Re
* Pyramid Texts
* Spell of the Twelve Caves

Festivals

* Beautiful Festival of the Valley
* Cattle count
* Coronation of the pharaoh
* Min festival
* Mysteries of Osiris
* Opet Festival
* Sed festival

Related religions

* Atenism
* Church of the Most High Goddess
* Gnosticism
* Hermeticism
* Kemetic Orthodoxy
* Kemetism
* Kushite religion
* Mysteries of Isis
* Temple of Set
* Thelema

Ancient Egypt portal

* v
* t
* e

Heka (/ˈhɛkə/; Ancient Egyptian: ḥkꜣ(w);[1] Coptic: ϩⲓⲕ hik;[2] also transliterated Hekau) was the deification of magic and medicine[3] in ancient Egypt. The name is the Egyptian word for "magic". According to Egyptian literature (Coffin text, spell 261), Heka existed "before duality had yet come into being." The term ḥkꜣ was also used to refer to the practice of magical rituals.[4]

## Name

[edit]

The name Heka is identical with the Egyptian word ḥkꜣ(w) "magic". This hieroglyphic spelling includes the symbol for the word ka (kꜣ), the ancient Egyptian concept of the vital force. Due to the importance placed onto names in ancient Egypt Heka was often incorporated into personal names. Some examples include: Hekawy, Hekaf, or simply Heka. The goddess Isis is also sometimes affiliated with Heka being titled Weret Hekau, Great Lady of magic.[5]

## Beliefs

[edit]

The Old Kingdom Pyramid Texts depict Heka as a supernatural energy that the gods possess. The "cannibal pharaoh" must devour other gods to gain this magical power. Eventually, Heka was elevated to a deity in his own right, and a cult devoted to him developed.

### Creation myths

[edit]

By the time of the Coffin Texts, Heka is said to have been created at the beginning of time by the creator Atum. Sometimes also being personified as the creator god, presented as a man or child and in some imagery holding two snakes. Heka is also said to be one of the three facets of the creator along with sia and hu.[6]

### General myths

[edit]

Heka is later depicted as part of the tableau of the divine solar barque and as a protector of Osiris in Duat capable of blinding crocodiles.

Then, during the Ptolemaic dynasty, Heka's role was to proclaim the pharaoh's enthronement as a son of Isis, holding him in his arms.[7][8]

Heka also appears as part of a divine triad in Esna, Ptolemaic and Roman capital of the Third Nome of the Thebaid of Upper Egypt, where he is the son of ram-headed Khnum and a succession of goddesses. His mother was alternately said to be Nebetu'u (a form of Hathor), lion-headed Menhit, and the cow goddess Mehet-Weret, before settling on Neith, a war and mother goddess.[9]

Werethekau whose name means "she who has great magic" is also sometimes connected with the force of Heka.

As Egyptologist Ogden Goelet (1994)[10] explains, magic in the Book of the Dead is problematic: The text uses various words corresponding to 'magic', for the Egyptians thought magic was a legitimate belief. As Goelet explains:

> Heka magic is many things, but, above all, it has a close association with speech and the power of the word. In the realm of Egyptian magic, actions did not necessarily speak louder than words – they were often one and the same thing. Thought, deed, image, and power are theoretically united in the concept of Heka.

— O. Goelet (1994)[10]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Relief of Heka at the Temple of Esna

* Heka (ḥkꜣ)

* Heka, holding two serpents crossing each other with the hind of a lion on nome standard represent his name on his head in the magical form

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Projet Rosette - Dictionary detail". projetrosette.info. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
2. ^ "Coptic Dictionary Online". corpling.uis.georgetown.edu. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
3. ^ "Heka, god of Egypt". landofpyramids.org. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
4. ^ Mirecki, Paul; Meyer (2015-08-24). Ancient Magic and Ritual Power. BRILL. p. 49\. ISBN 978-90-04-28381-7.
5. ^ Riggs, Christina (2020). Ancient Egyptian magic a hands-on guide. Thames & Hudson. p. 23\. ISBN 978-0-500-05212-9.
6. ^ Shaw, Garry J. (2014). The Egyptian myths A guide to the ancient gods and legends. Thames and Hudson. p. 27\. ISBN 978-0-500-25198-0.
7. ^ Hart, George (2005). The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. Psychology Press. p. 66\. ISBN 978-0415344951. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
8. ^ Dunand, Françoise; Zivie-Coche, Christiane (2004). Gods and Men in Egypt: 3000 BCE to 395 CE. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0801441653.
9. ^ Najovits, Simson R. (May 2003). Egypt, Trunk of the Tree. Vol. I: A Modern Survey of and Ancient Land. Algora Publishing. ISBN 9780875862347.
10. ^ a b Ani; et al. (1994) [1250 BCE]. Goelet, Ogden Jr. (ed.). The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day. Translated by Faulkner, Raymond. preface by Carol Andrews (1st ed.). San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. p. 145\. ISBN 0811807673. "being the Papyrus of Ani (royal scribe of the divine offerings), written and illustrated circa 1250 BCE, by scribes and artists unknown, including the balance of chapters of the books of the dead known as the Theban recension, compiled from ancient texts, dating back to the roots of Egyptian civilization"

* v
* t
* e

Ancient Egyptian religion

Beliefs|

* Afterlife
* Creation myths
* Isfet
* Maa Kheru
* Maat
* Mythology
* Numerology
* Osiris myth
* Philosophy
* Soul

Practices|

* Canopic jars
* Embalming ritual
* Funerals
* Mortuary temples
* Offering formula
* Opening of the mouth
* Pyramids
* Temples
* Veneration of the dead

Deities (list)|

| Ogdoad|

* Amun and Amunet
* Heh and Hauhet
* Kek and Kauket
* Nu and Naunet

|

Ennead|

* Atum
* Geb
* Isis
* Nephthys
* Nut
* Osiris
* Set
* Shu
* Tefnut

Triads|

* Elephantine Triad
* Theban Triad

* A
* Aani
* Aati
* Abaset
* Abtu
* Ahmose-Nefertari
* Aker
* Akhty
* Amenhotep, son of Hapu
* Amesemi
* Am-heh
* Ammit
* Amu-Aa
* Anat
* Andjety
* Anput
* Anubis
* Anuket
* Apedemak
* Apesh
* Apis
* Apophis
* Aqen
* Arensnuphis
* Arsinoe II
* Ash
* Assessors of Maat
* Astarte
* Aten
* B
* Baal
* Baalat Gebal
* Babi
* Banebdjedet
* Ba-Pef
* Bastet
* Bat
* Bata
* Bennu
* Bes
* Beset
* Buchis
* C
* Cavern deities of the underworld
* Celestial Ferryman
* D
* Dedun
* Dionysus-Osiris
* Djedefhor
* Duamutef
* Duau
* G
* Gate deities of the underworld
* Gengen-Wer
* H
* Ha
* Hapi
* Hapy
* Harmachis
* Harpocrates
* Harsomtus
* Hathor
* Hatmehit
* Hauron
* Hedetet
* Hedjhotep
* Heka
* Hemen
* Hemsut
* Henet
* Henkhisesui
* Heqaib
* Heqet
* Hermanubis
* Hermes Trismegistus
* Heru-ur
* Heryshaf
* Hery-maat
* Hesat
* Horus
* Hu
* Hutchai
* I
* Iabet
* Iah
* Iat
* Igai
* Ihy
* Ikhemu-sek
* Imentet
* Imhotep
* Imsety
* Ipy
* Irer
* Ishtar
* Iunit
* Iusaaset
* J
* Jupiter Ammon
* K
* Kagemni I
* Kebechet
* Khensit
* Khenti-Amentiu
* Khenti-kheti
* Khepri
* Khereduankh
* Kherty
* Khnum
* Khonsu
* Kneph
* Kolanthes
* Kothar-wa-Khasis
* M
* Maahes
* Maat
* Mafdet
* Mandulis
* Medjed
* Mehen
* Mehet-Weret
* Mehit
* Menhit
* Meret
* Meretseger
* Meskhenet
* Min
* Mnevis
* Montu
* Mut
* N
* Nebethetepet
* Nebtuwi
* Nebnerou
* Nefertem
* Nehebkau
* Nehmetawy
* Neith
* Nekhbet
* Nemty
* Neper
* Nepit
* O
* Onuris
* P
* Pakhet
* Panebtawy
* Perit
* Petbe
* Peteese
* Pihor
* Ptah
* Ptahhotep
* Q
* Qebehsenuef
* Qebui
* Qed-her
* Qetesh
* R
* Ra
* Raet-Tawy
* Rekhyt
* Rem
* Renenutet
* Renpet
* Renpetneferet
* Repyt
* Resheph
* Ruty
* S
* Sah
* Satis
* Sebiumeker
* Sedjem
* Sekhmet
* Sepa
* Serapis
* Serket
* Seshat
* Shai
* Shed
* Shehbui
* Shemanefer
* Shepsy
* Shesmetet
* Shezmu
* Sia
* Sobek
* Sokar
* Sopdet
* Sopdu
* Souls of Pe and Nekhen
* T
* Ta-Bitjet
* Tatenen
* Taweret
* Tayt
* Teka-her
* Thoth
* Tjenenyet
* Tutu
* U
* Unut
* W
* Wadjet
* Wadj-wer
* Weneg
* Wepset
* Wepwawet
* Werethekau
* Wosret
* Y
* Yam

Creatures|

* Akhekh
* Apshait
* Criosphinx
* Griffin
* Hieracosphinx
* Medjed
* Serpopard
* Sha
* Sphinx
* Uraeus

Characters|

* Djadjaemankh
* Djedi
* Rededjet
* Ubaoner

Locations|

* Aaru
* Akhet
* Benben
* Duat
* Lake of fire
* Land of Manu
* The Indestructibles

Symbols
and objects|

* Ankh
* Anra scarab
* Atef
* Cartouche
* Corn mummy
* Cowroid
* Crook and flail
* Crown of justification
* Deshret
* Djed
* Egyptian obelisk
* Egyptian pool
* Eye of Horus
* Eye of Ra
* Hedjet
* Hemhem crown
* Hennu
* Horus on the Crocodiles
* Hypocephalus
* Imiut fetish
* Khepresh
* Kneph
* Menat
* Modius
* Nebu
* Nemes
* Neshmet
* Ouroboros
* Pschent
* Scarab
* Serekh
* Shen ring
* Solar barque
* Tyet
* Ushabti
* Vulture crown
* Was-sceptre
* Winged sun

Writings|

* Amduat
* Books of Breathing
* Book of Caverns
* Book of the Dead
* Book of the Earth
* Book of Gates
* Book of the Heavenly Cow
* Book of Traversing Eternity
* Coffin Texts
* Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld
* Festival Songs of Isis and Nephthys
* Great Hymn to the Aten
* Litany of the Eye of Horus
* Litany of Re
* Pyramid Texts
* Spell of the Twelve Caves
* The Contendings of Horus and Seth

Festivals|

* Beautiful Festival of the Valley
* Cattle count
* Coronation of the pharaoh
* Min festival
* Mysteries of Osiris
* Opet Festival
* Sed festival

Related religions|

* Atenism
* Church of the Most High Goddess
* Gnosticism
* Hermeticism
* Kemetic Orthodoxy
* Kemetism
* Kushite religion
* Mysteries of Isis
* Temple of Set
* Thelema

* Ancient Egypt portal

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* t
* e

Kushite religion

Beliefs|

* Afterlife
* Christianity
* Creation myths
* Egyptian religion
* Eye of Ra
* Flooding of the Nile
* Maat
* Mythology
* Philosophy
* Prophecy of Neferti
* Soul

Practices|

* Burials
* Execration texts
* Funerals
* Mortuary temple
* Pilgrimage
* Pyramids
* Temples
* Veneration of the dead

deities|

| Elephantine|

* Anaka
* Khenmu
* Satis

|

Naqa|

* Aman
* Amesemi
* Apedemak

* A
* Amanete
* Anhur
* Aqedise
* Arensnuphis
* Ariten
* Atari
* B
* Bastet
* Bes
* Breith
* D
* Dedun
* H
* Heka
* Hemen
* Horus
* M
* Makedeke
* Mandulis
* Mash
* Mehit
* Menhit
* Miket
* N
* Nu
* R
* Ra
* S
* Sebiumeker
* Sobek
* T
* Thoth
* W
* Wusa

Cultures|

* A-Group
* Alodia
* B-Group
* Blemmyes
* C-Group
* Kerma
* Kingdom of al-Abwab
* Makuria
* Medja
* Meroë
* Napata
* Nobatia
* X-Group

Locations|

* Aniba
* Ballana
* Bigeh
* Deir el-Bahari
* Dodekaschoinos
* Dotawo
* Elephantine
* Jebel Barkal
* Kawa
* Lisht
* Musawwarat es-Sufra
* Philae temple complex
* Qasr Ibrim
* Qustul
* Semna
* Temple of Amun
* Temple of Dendur
* Temple of Mut
* Throne Hall of Dongola
* Tombos

Sacred animals|

* Abtu
* Barbary lion
* Cattle
* Falcon
* Hieracosphinx
* Medjed
* Nile crocodile
* North African elephant
* Ram
* Serpopard
* Sphinx
* Taweret
* Uraeus

Symbols
& objects|

* Ankh
* Atef
* Cartouche
* Christian cross
* Crook and flail
* Crown of justification
* Deshret
* Djed
* Egyptian obelisk
* Egyptian pool
* Eye of Horus
* Eye of Ra
* Gold
* Hafir
* Hedjet
* Hemhem crown
* Hennu
* Horus on the Crocodiles
* Hypocephalus
* Imiut fetish
* Khepresh
* Kneph
* Menat
* Nebu
* Nemes
* Pschent
* Scarab
* Serekh
* Shen ring
* Solar barque
* Tyet
* Ushabti
* Vulture crown
* Was-sceptre

Languages|

* Blemmyes language
* Egyptian language
* Meroitic language (Meroitic alphabet)
* Nubian language

Category

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data

Other|

* IdRef

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