In Egyptian mythology, the lion-headed goddess associated with war and destruction is Sekhmet.
Sekhmet was a fierce solar deity linked with warfare, disease, deserts, and the destructive power of the sun. Egyptians also called her the “Eye of Ra,” a dangerous manifestation of the sun god’s authority. Her name is commonly translated as “She who is powerful.”
A famous myth tells how Ra sent Sekhmet to punish humans who plotted against him. Her violence continued beyond the original punishment, so the gods spread red-dyed beer across the land. Mistaking it for blood, Sekhmet drank until she became intoxicated and stopped her rampage, saving humanity.
Sekhmet is often confused with Hathor and Bastet because all three have feline associations. Hathor could take Sekhmet’s form, while Bastet was more strongly associated with protection, fertility, domestic life, and cats. Sekhmet was also connected with healing, reflecting the Egyptian belief that the power capable of causing illness could also cure it.