Was-sceptre

For other uses, see Was-sceptre (disambiguation).

Was in hieroglyphs

File:Scepter was.jpg

A wooden was scepter.

Was ("power") scepters represent the Set-animal (mascot of the Egyptian god Sutekh). Was scepters were depicted as being carried by gods, pharaohs, and priests, as a symbol of power, and in later use, as a symbol of control over the force of chaos (Set). Was scepters occur often in paintings, drawings, and carvings of gods, and remnants of real Was scepters have been found constructed of faience or wood, where the head and forked tail of the Set-animal are visible.

The Was (ws) is also the Egyptian hieroglyphic character that stands for a word meaning power.

The was has a forked top and a tripod base.

A Was staff, carried by the god Set (Sutekh), as represented in the tomb of Thutmose III (KV34).