What is the name of the cobra goddess who protects Lower Egypt? Wadjet. She was the ancient Egyptian protector and patron goddess of Lower Egypt, commonly shown as a cobra.
Wadjet originated as the local goddess of Dep, or Buto, in the Nile Delta. Her name is often translated as “Green One,” and her imagery was closely connected with the papyrus-rich landscape of Lower Egypt. She could appear as a rearing Egyptian cobra, a woman with a snake’s head, or the uraeus worn on royal crowns.
The uraeus was more than decoration. It represented a dangerous protective force that could strike the pharaoh’s enemies, making Wadjet a guardian of kingship and divine authority. She was also associated with protective eye symbols, including the Eye of Ra and the Eye of Horus.
Wadjet’s major counterpart was Nekhbet, the vulture goddess of Upper Egypt. After Egypt’s unification, the two were paired as the “Two Ladies,” symbolizing the joined kingdoms. This is why Wadjet is sometimes confused with Sekhmet, another fierce protective goddess, although Sekhmet is primarily lioness-headed.