The Was Scepter, or tcham-scepter, was an ancient Egyptian symbol of power, divine authority, and magic. Held by gods, pharaohs, and priests, it played a key role in rituals and funerary art. With a design linking the mortal and divine realms, it represented control over chaos, preservation of cosmic order, and safe passage to the afterlife. Originating in the First Dynasty, its symbolic power endured for millennia.
The was scepter a.k.a tcham-scepter is a symbol of power & dominion and an emblem of authority plus it is associated with wealth and happiness, it was associated with ancient Egyptian gods like the god of chaos, desert and war Set & the god of the dead Anubis plus it was found in the hands of ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
The Was specter represented the animalistic aspect of Set and the total takeover of the forces of chaos. It was believed that the staff had magical powers and was used to create a bond between the underworld and the mortal one. The "was" was an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph character representing power.
The scepter is in the shape of a staff with the head of a desert animal and an open fork at its base, which could symbolize the legs of this creature. Some believe that the origin of the staff can be derived from a walking stick, the root of a tree, a tent pole, or a fighting cane. The scepter’s association with divine rule may have been influenced by the belief that gods used such objects to maintain order (maat) and suppress chaos (isfet).
This ancient Egyptian symbol was very famous, heavily associated with gods like Anubis (god of mummification) and Osiris (god of the afterlife), reflecting its divine origins. It was constructed of wood, ivory, or faience, and sometimes precious metals like gold and silver were used. Its roots can date back all the way to the Predynastic period of ancient Egypt (before 3100 BCE) and continued to hold significance throughout the Pharaonic era, right into the Roman period.
It was commonly seen carried by Pharaohs, gods, and Priests during its first use in the first dynasty in the 30th century BC (3150 – 2613 BC) in the time of King Narmer. By the time of the Old Kingdom (2686–2181 BCE), the was-scepter had become firmly established as a symbol of divine kingship. Pharaohs, regarded as living gods, adopted the was-scepter as part of their regalia to underscore their divine authority.
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The Was Scepter served as massive mythological role, mostly in religious ceremonies and funerary art as it was featured in statues and as an image of the pharaohs, gods and goddess on ancient Egyptian temples & tombs holding the Was Scepter which emphasized their role in providing a safe passage for the deceased for the afterlife plus providing protection from any danger while crossing the underworld.
Every deity and Pharaoh made sure to carry the Was Scepter as a symbol of control, power, order, and dominion, plus represented the divine connection between them. Many believe they featured control over the elements, which explains why gods and kings carried them.
The Was Scepter was believed to have multidimensional, cosmic power over time and space. It held power over life and death, plus provided a safe passage for every soul across the afterlife. The scepter had a powerful magical force harnessed from the gods to be used in maintaining ancient Egyptian magic and harmony in both the divine and mortal realms.
The scepter represents part of the might of the god,s which was bestowed on the rulers to signify their right to rule and their role to be the true intermediaries who will keep the balance between order (maat) and chaos (isfet), the was-scepter symbolized the ability to repel and subdue chaotic forces.
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The ancient Egyptian god of mummification and the afterlife, Anubis, is often depicted holding a was-scepter. The was-scepter is a long staff with a forked base and a stylized animal head at the top, symbolizing power, dominion, and control over the forces of chaos. The was-scepter was associated with deities and kingship, representing authority and divine rule. The staff underscores Anubis's role as a protector and guide of souls in the afterlife.
The pharaohs of ancient Egypt were commonly depicted with scepters as symbols of their divine right to rule and their authority. Scepters were powerful visual representations of a pharaoh’s status as both a temporal and spiritual leader, often featured in royal regalia and iconography throughout ancient Egypt.
The two primary types of scepters held by pharaohs were:
The Was-Scepter symbolizes power and dominion, similar to what Anubis holds. It was used to show the king’s control over the world and their divine authority.
The Crook and Flail were two distinct symbols often held crossed over the chest. The crook symbolized the pharaoh's role as a shepherd of the people, while the flail represented their role as a provider and protector.
The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.
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