Amesemi
Amesemi is a Kushite protective goddess and wife of Apedemak, the lion-god. She was represented with a crown shaped as a falcon, or with a crescent moon on her head on top of which a falcon was standing. The clothing that Amesemi is seen wearing is a robe that is made from cloth and is worn over her undergarments. She is often seen wearing a short necklace with large beads. She is also depicted holding a second set of hands with her.
| Amesemi | |
|---|---|
Nubian Goddess of the Moon and Protection | |
Naqa Lion Temple: Amesemi (second from right) with sun-disc-crowned double falcons on his head | |
| Symbol | Crescent moon, Falcon |
| Consort | Apedemak |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Selene |
| Roman equivalent | Luna • Juno |
| Bakongo equivalent | Nzambici |
| Phrygian equivalent | Men |
| Igbo equivalent | Ala |
| Yoruba equivalent | Yemọja |
In the north-front reliefs of the Lion Temple in Naqa she appears together with Isis, Mut, Hathor and Satet. Compared to the goddesses of ancient Egyptian origin Amesemi appears to be much more corpulent, which is typical for the representation of women in Meroe. On stelae in the temple of Amun in Naqa she is shown together with the Kandake Amanishakheto.