Amesemi

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

Amesemi is a Kushite protective goddess and wife of Apedemak, the lion-god.^[1] 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.

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.^[2] On stelae in the temple of Amun in Naqa she is shown together with the Kandake Amanishakheto.^[3]