Aset, Great of Heka

These are funerary texts, called 'utterances', inscribed on the walls of Old Kingdom pyramids (2375-2181) and the First Intermediate (2181-2055). They comprise over 800 different utterances and cover the reign of six kings. Below is a small selection of places where Aset is mentionend.

The first mentionings of the Name of Aset is from the Pyramid Texts from the 5th Dynasty. In Utterance 4, the earliest place which history has brought us where her name appears, it says:

Utt. 4
Recitation by Nut:

"...O King, I have given to you your sister Isis, that she may lay hold of you and give to you your heart for your body."

§ 210
Ascend and descend; descent with Nebt-Het, sink into darkness with the Night-bark.
Ascend and descend; ascend with Aset, rise with the Day-bark.

Utt. 406
§ 707
Bring me the milk of Aset, the flood of Nebt-Het, the overspill of the lake, the surge of the sea, life, prosperity, health, happiness, bread, beer...

Utt. 535
§1280-1
Thus said Aset and Nebt-Het: The 'screecher' comes, the kite comes, namely Aset and Nebt-Het; they have come seeking their brother Wesir, seeking ther brother the King.... Weep for your brother O Aset; weep for your brother, O Nebt-Het; weep for your brother! Aset sits down with her hands on her head, Nebt-Het has grasped the tips of her breasts because of her brother the King...

The Book of Going forth By Day, or more popularly; the Book of the Dead, appeared during the New Kingdom. In Chapter 15 can be found a hymn to Osiris which also contains an important descriptions of the roles of Aset:

In same book, Spell no: 142:4 can be read following, which gives us an idea of the many epiteths that Aset was given:

"...Aset the great, Mother of the God; Aset the Divine, Aset the daughter of Nut; Aset the Great of Magic; Aset the possessor of magical protection, Aset the possessor of rolls; Aset who protected her Father, Aset the Ruler of rolls; Aset in Asyut, Aset as ruler of (the city of) 'Shesmin', Aset in Bahbit (Iseum); Aset in Pe, Aset in Dep, Aset in Coptos, Aset 'in charge of' Pe, Aset in Akhmim, Aset in Abydos, Aset in King´s House; Aset in the Sky, Aset in the earth, Aset in the southern (and northern) chapel (of Sais), Isis in the northern chapel (of Sais); Asset in all her Manifestations, Aset in all her characters, Aset in all her Aspects, Aset in (every) place where her Spirit desires to be;..."