Egyptian divinity

Shesmou: Historical and archaeological study of an Egyptian deity

Introduction

Shesmu (also written Chesmu, Shesmu, Schesmu, Shezmu, Schezemu, Schesemu, Shesemu, Sezmu, Sesmu or Šezmu) is an ancient Egyptian deity whose role and representation evolved over the millennia of Egyptian civilisation. The aim of this study is to present the historical and archaeological aspects of this complex divinity, based on the available textual, iconographic and archaeological sources.

1. Early evidence and historical development

Predynastic period and Old Kingdom

The earliest mentions of Shesmu date back to the Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC), notably in the Pyramid Texts, the oldest corpus of Egyptian religious texts. Formula 403 of the Pyramid Texts (Pyr. §§ 697-699) refers to Shesmu as a deity associated with the wine press and the blood of the enemies of the deceased pharaoh (Faulkner, 1969).

According to Egyptologist Herman te Velde (1977), Shesmou was probably a local deity whose cult developed in the region of Memphis, one of Egypt’s oldest capitals.

Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom

During the Middle Kingdom (2033-1786 BC), Shesmou appears in the Sarcophagus Texts, where his role as a deity associated with perfumes and sacred oils is further developed. Formula 941 of the Sarcophagus Texts mentions him as the ‘Lord of perfumed oils’ (Barguet, 1986).

During the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC), references to Shesmu appear in the Book of the Dead (Chapter 17) and in various royal funerary texts, notably in the tombs in the Valley of the Kings (Hornung, 1999).

Late Period and Ptolemaic period

In the Late Period (664-332 BC) and during the Ptolemaic period (332-30 BC), Shesmu is mentioned in temple texts, particularly at Denderah and Edfu. The temple at Edfu contains inscriptions describing the rituals for preparing sacred oils under the protection of Shesmu (Chassinat, 1928).

2. The nature and functions of divinity

Master of the press

Shesmou’s primary function was that of ‘Master of the Press’ (nb nšnm). This title, attested to in numerous religious texts, designates him as the deity presiding over the extraction of grape juice for the production of wine, as well as the extraction of vegetable oils used in the manufacture of sacred perfumes and unguents (Manniche, 1999).

God of perfumes and sacred oils

According to Lise Manniche (1999) in her book Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, Aromatherapy, and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt, Shesmou was revered as the protector of the extraction processes for plant essences. The oils produced under his protection were used for :

Religious and funerary rituals
Embalming the deceased
Royal and divine anointings
Cosmetic treatments

Ambivalent divinity

A notable feature of Shesmou is his dual nature. On the one hand, he is a beneficent deity, providing essential products for worship and the preservation of bodies. On the other hand, funerary texts describe him as a fearsome entity, ‘the one who squeezes the blood of enemies as one squeezes grapes’ (Willems, 1996).

This duality reflects the Egyptian conception of natural forces as both creative and destructive. Dimitri Meeks (2003) points out that this ambivalence is common to deities associated with the processes of transformation.

3. IIconography and archaeological representations

Anthropomorphic representations

Representations of Shesmu are relatively rare compared with other deities in the Egyptian pantheon. When he is represented, he generally appears in two main forms:

Human form: In some representations, notably on papyri from the New Kingdom, Shesmu is shown as a man wearing the crown of Lower Egypt or a simple wig (Wilkinson, 2003). According to Wikipedia, he is also depicted with his arms full of jars.
Leonine form: More frequently, he is depicted as a lion-headed man, sometimes holding a knife, symbolising his fearsome appearance (Hornung, 1982).

Pressing scenes

Representations of the pressing process, under the implicit protection of Shesmou, can be seen in several private tombs, including :

The tomb of Petosiris at Tuna el-Gebel (4th century BC)
The Theban tombs TT52 (Nakht) and TT217 (Ipuy) from the New Kingdom
The tomb of Kheti at Beni Hassan (Middle Kingdom)

These scenes show people using twisting presses to extract grape juice or vegetable oils (Murray, Boulton & Heron, 2000).

Archaeological objects

Few archaeological objects are directly associated with Shesmou. However, oil and wine presses have been discovered in various archaeological contexts, including:

An olive oil pressing installation at Tell el-Balamun (Late Period)
Remains of wine presses at Abydos and Tell el-Amarna
Ointment containers bearing inscriptions mentioning Shesmu have been identified in the treasury of Tutankhamun (Carter & Mace, 1923-1933).

4. Worship and places of veneration

Worship centres

Although Shesmu did not enjoy as widespread a cult as other major deities such as Osiris or Amun, several centres have been identified as places where he was worshipped:

Memphis: Considered to be the main centre of his cult, particularly in the artisan quarter where perfumes and sacred oils were produced (Zivie, 2009).
Denderah: The Temple of Hathor at Denderah contains references to Shesmu as a deity associated with the production of ritual oils (Cauville, 2001).
Abousir: References to Shesmu have been found in the solar temple of Niouserre (5th Dynasty).

Associated rituals

The rituals associated with Shesmu were mainly linked to the production of wine and sacred oils. Texts from the temple at Edfu describe in detail the preparation of the ‘Seven Sacred Oils’ used in daily rituals and embalming ceremonies (Goyon, 1972).

5. Theological aspects and relationships with other divinities

Divine associations

Shesmu maintains theological relationships with several other deities:

Horus: In some late texts, Shesmu is likened to an aspect of the avenging Horus, protecting his father Osiris (Junker, 1958).
Khenty-Khety: This crocodile deity from Letopolis shares certain violent and protective aspects with Shesmu (Meeks, 2003).
Min: God of fertility, he is sometimes associated with Shesmu in agricultural contexts linked to wine production (Gauthier, 1931).
Osiris: As the god of wine, Shesmu is linked to the Osirian cycle of death and rebirth, wine being symbolically associated with the blood of Osiris (Griffiths, 1980).

Mythological significance

The duality of Shesmou reflects the Egyptian concept of transformation: the extraction of precious substances (wine, oil) requiring a form of violence (pressing, crushing). This duality also symbolises the cycle of life and death, a central theme in Egyptian religious thought (Assmann, 2001).

Conclusion

Shesmou is a fascinating example of a specialised deity in the Egyptian pantheon. Her association with the production of wine and sacred oils highlights the importance of these substances in ancient Egyptian religious and funerary practices. Its ambivalent nature, both beneficent and fearsome, reflects the complexity of Egyptian religious thought and its perception of natural forces.

Although less well known than other major deities, Shesmu occupied a significant place in the Egyptian religious universe, particularly in ritual and funerary contexts where perfumes, unguents and wine played an essential role.

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