{{short description|Ancient Egyptian religious symbol}} thumb|50px|A ''was''-sceptre {{Hiero|''w3s''| <hiero>wAs</hiero> |align=right |era=egypt |ref=https://books.google.com/books?id=6KUdBAAAQBAJ&pg=PP1}}
The '''''was''''' (Egyptian ''wꜣs'' "power, dominion"<ref name=Allen-2014-07-24-MdEgpt/>) sceptre is a symbol that appeared often in relics, art, and hieroglyphs associated with the ancient Egyptian religion. It appears as a stylized animal head at the top of a long, straight staff with a forked end.
''Was'' sceptres were used as symbols of power or dominion, and were associated with ancient Egyptian deities such as Set or Anubis<ref name=Horemheb-KV-57/> as well as with the pharaoh. ''Was'' sceptres also represent the Set animal or Khnum. In later use, it was a symbol of control over the force of chaos that Set represented.
In a funerary context, the ''was'' sceptre was responsible for the well-being of the deceased and was thus sometimes included in the tomb-equipment or in the decoration of the tomb or coffin. The sceptre is also considered an amulet. The Egyptians perceived the sky as being supported on four pillars, which could have the shape of the ''was''. This sceptre was also the symbol of the fourth Upper Egyptian nome, the nome of Thebes (called ''wꜣst'' in Egyptian).<ref name="Glbl-Egpt-Mus-Was–sceptre"/><ref name=Allen-2014-07-24-MdEgpt/>
''Was'' sceptres were depicted as being carried by gods, pharaohs, and priests. They commonly occur in paintings, drawings, and carvings of gods, and often parallel with emblems such as the ''ankh'' and the ''djed''-pillar. Remnants of physical ''was'' sceptres have been found. They are constructed of faience or wood, where the head and forked tail of the Set animal are visible. The earliest examples date to the First Dynasty.
<gallery class="center"> File:Stela showing "Isis the Great Goddess" sitting and holding a was-sceptre. A man, the head of necropolis workers, adores her. From Egypt, Middle Kingdom. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg|Stela showing "Isis the Great Goddess" sitting and holding a ''was''-sceptre. A man, the head of necropolis workers, adores her. Middle Kingdom of Egypt, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London File:Egypt.Mythology.Set.jpg|A ''was'' sceptre carried by the god Set, in the tomb of Thutmose III File:Upper part of a stela showing a standing man adoring Ra-Horakhty who holds a was-sceptre. 19th Dynasty. From Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg|Upper part of a stela showing a standing man adoring Ra-Horakhty, who holds a ''was''-sceptre. Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London File:Faience 'was'-sceptre of Thuthmosis III (8570267204).jpg| Head of a physical ''was'' sceptre made from faience File:Figurine of a Ritual Scepter of Power LACMA M.80.203.33.jpg| ''was''-shaped amulet with animal head and forked tail </gallery>
The ''Was'' (''{{lang|egy|wꜣs}}'') is the Egyptian hieroglyph character representing ''power''.
==See also== *Sekhem scepter
== References == {{reflist|25em|refs=
<ref name=Allen-2014-07-24-MdEgpt> {{cite book |last=Allen |first=James P. |date=2014-07-24 |title=Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781139917094 |page=579 |language=en |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6KUdBAAAQBAJ&q=w3s&pg=579 }} </ref>
<ref name="Glbl-Egpt-Mus-Was–sceptre"> {{cite web |title=Was–sceptre |website=GlobalEgyptianMuseum.org |url=http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=397 |access-date=2012-07-23 }} </ref>
<ref name=Horemheb-KV-57>{{cite web |title=Horemheb KV 57 |publisher=osirisnet.net |url=http://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/pharaons/horemheb/e_horemheb_part1.htm |access-date=2012-07-23 |archive-date=2015-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002011006/http://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/pharaons/horemheb/e_horemheb_part1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
== External links == * {{Commons category-inline|Was sceptre}}
{{Ancient Egyptian religion footer}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Was''-sceptre}}
Category:Egyptian artefact types Category:Egyptian hieroglyphs Category:Ancient Egyptian words and phrases Category:Egyptian amulets Category:Walking sticks Category:Anubis Category:Set (deity)