Meretseger (also spelled Meretseger or Mertseger) is an ancient Egyptian goddess, often depicted as a cobra or a woman with a cobra's head. Her name translates to "She Who Loves Silence" in Egyptian, reflecting her association with the quiet and solitude of the desert. In Hebrew, her name can be translated as מרטסגר. Meretseger was primarily worshipped in the region of Thebes, particularly by the workers of the Deir el-Medina, the village of artisans who built the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. She was considered the protector of these workers, safeguarding them from the dangers of the desert and the tombs. Meretseger was also associated with justice and vengeance, punishing those who wronged the workers or desecrated the tombs. Her cult was an integral part of the daily life and spiritual practices of the Deir el-Medina community, and she was often invoked for protection and guidance.
Ancient Egyptian cobra-goddess
Meretseger was a Theban cobra-goddess in ancient Egyptian religion, in charge with guarding and protecting the vast Theban Necropolis -on the west bank of the Nile, in front of Thebes -and especially the heavily guarded Valley of the Kings. Her cult was typical of the New Kingdom of Egypt.