One aspect of writing a story that is often underestimated is coming up with suitable names for the characters. And that’s just as true of the pets in the Pets in Space stories. I could ask ChatGPT to come up with suggestions but I have a tendency to prefer names that mean something. After a dig around, I decided my Pet in Space would be called Maahes, after the Egyptian God of War. I’d never heard of him before – and it turns out the real Maahes is fascinating, albeit lesser known than Isis, Osiris, Anubis and the like.
Maahes has deep ties to both warfare and protection. As the Egyptian God of War, Maahes embodies the ferocity and strength of a lion, which also symbolizes his role as a guardian. And that’s perfect for his role in my story in Pets in Space 9. Only my Maahes looks more like a leopard than a lion.
In Egypt, Maahes was typically depicted as a lion-headed man wielding a knife or a sword. Sometimes he is seen wearing a kilt adorned with images of lions, reinforcing his identity as a lion god. Although not as widely recognized as some other deities in the Egyptian pantheon, Maahes was highly respected and revered in specific regions, particularly in Lower Egypt. He was considered the son of the goddess Bastet, the feline-headed goddess of home, fertility, and protection, or alternatively, the son of Sekhmet, the lioness-headed goddess of war and destruction. These maternal ties to powerful, protective goddesses highlight Maahes’ dual role as both a warrior and a defender. His name means ‘He Who is True Beside Her’ and symbolizes protection and truth.[source]
Maahes is frequently depicted in temple reliefs and statues, particularly in regions where his worship was more prominent. Temples dedicated to him have been discovered in Leontopolis (the “City of Lions”) in the Nile Delta and in the ancient city of Bubastis, where his mother, Bastet, was worshipped. These sites were central to the cults of lion and cat deities, and Maahes’ imagery is often found alongside that of Bastet and Sekhmet.
In artistic depictions, Maahes stands out for his imposing lion head, symbolizing his connection to the animal that epitomizes both ferocity and protection. He is often shown in a warrior’s stance, holding a knife, which underscores his role as a deity of war. The knife, an instrument of both combat and ritual sacrifice, also signifies Maahes’ role in protecting the order of Ma’at, the divine balance of the universe.
While Maahes was primarily a god of war, he was also invoked for protection. His fierce nature was believed to ward off evil spirits and enemies, making him a guardian for those who called upon him. In this way, Maahes served a dual purpose: he was a bringer of destruction to Egypt’s foes and a protector of its people.
Worship of Maahes was most fervent in the cities where the lion was considered sacred, such as Leontopolis. Here, lions were kept in temples, and the priests who served Maahes would care for these sacred animals as living representations of the god. The lion’s association with the sun, another symbol of power and life, further strengthened Maahes’ connection to the solar deity Ra. In this context, Maahes was sometimes viewed as an aspect of Ra’s destructive power, a force unleashed against the enemies of the gods and Egypt.
See? I hadn’t heard of Maahes before I started to write The President’s Daughter. Writing can be a very educational.
Pre-orders for Pets in Space 9 will be starting soon. I can’t wait to see the cover.
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