This section contains original research, interpretations, and theoretical frameworks developed by the author.
These ideas represent scholarly analysis and synthesis of Set's role within Egyptian mythology and comparative mythology.
⚛️ Core Theory: Set as SeT₂ (Selenium Ditelluride)
Set, the god of chaos and storms, encodes knowledge of SeT₂ (Selenium Ditelluride), a reactive semiconductor compound that embodies disorder, volatility, and the dangerous power of unstable electron configurations.
Chemical Formula:
SeT₂ (Selenium Ditelluride)
Elements:
Selenium (Se) + Tellurium (Te)
Properties:
Semiconductor, radiation absorber
Key Feature:
Reactive, unstable, red-black coloration
📜 The Etymology: S-e-T = Selenium-Tellurium
The name Set (also Seth, Sutekh) encodes the chemical formula for selenium-tellurium compounds:
- S or Se = Selenium (atomic symbol Se)
- -e- = electron/element linker
- T = Tellurium (atomic symbol Te)
- Formula: SeT₂ = Selenium ditelluride (one selenium, two tellurium atoms)
Both selenium and tellurium are chalcogens (Group 16 elements), closely related to sulfur. Set's chemistry parallels sulfur's reactivity but with added semiconductor properties and radiation absorption capabilities.
🌪️ Chaos as Unstable Electron Configurations
Set's chaotic nature corresponds to the unstable electron configurations in selenium-tellurium semiconductors:
Chemical Chaos Manifestations:
- Violent reactivity with water: Se-Te compounds react aggressively with moisture = storm god bringing destructive rain
- Variable oxidation states: Selenium can be -2, +4, or +6 = unpredictable, shifting allegiances
- Semiconductor behavior: Neither fully conductive nor insulating = ambiguous moral character
- Spontaneous phase transitions: Crystalline structure changes = sudden violent outbursts
Where Osiris (OsIrI₄S₂) represents ultimate stability (noble metals), Set represents ultimate instability (reactive chalcogens). This chemical opposition mirrors their mythological conflict.
🏜️ The Red Desert: Selenium Compounds
Set's red hair and desert associations directly correspond to selenium's characteristic coloration:
- Red selenium (α-Se): Deep red amorphous form found in desert minerals
- Black tellurium: Dark crystalline form = Set's dark/evil aspects
- Desert deposits: Se and Te concentrate in arid, volcanic regions (Set's domain)
- Toxic to life: Selenium toxicity creates "alkali disease" in livestock = desert sterility
- Drought conditions: Se-Te compounds leach into water during drought, poisoning wells
"Set, red of hair and eye, lord of the barren desert where nothing grows... his breath brings the scorching wind that withers all vegetation."
— Pyramid Texts, Utterance 222
This describes selenium toxicity in desert soils, which prevents plant growth and creates sterile landscapes.
🛡️ Spearing Apep: Radiation Shielding
Set's nightly role defending Ra's barque from Apep encodes radiation shielding properties of selenium:
Set as Radiation Shield:
- Selenium absorbs gamma radiation: High atomic number (34) and electron density block photons
- Alpha particle absorption: Se-Te compounds stop alpha particles (Apep) from reaching Ra
- "Spearing Apep" = containment: Physical barrier preventing radiation escape
- Nightly protection: Shielding must be continuously maintained (every night journey)
- Set's strength: Thick Se-Te barriers required for heavy shielding
This paradox—that chaotic Set protects cosmic order—reflects how disorderly semiconductors (random electron movements) can shield against dangerous radiation, protecting more stable materials.
⚖️ Necessary Evil: Selenium's Dual Nature
Set's complex moral status—both villain and protector—mirrors selenium's biological duality:
| Low Dose (Beneficial) |
High Dose (Toxic) |
| Essential micronutrient |
Causes selenosis poisoning |
| Antioxidant enzyme cofactor |
Hair/nail loss, garlic breath |
| Protects against cancer |
Liver damage, death |
| Thyroid hormone regulation |
Neurological disorders |
Mythological parallel: Set is necessary to defend Ra (low-dose benefit) but dangerous when uncontrolled (high-dose toxicity). The ancient Egyptians understood that chaos, like selenium, serves a purpose in the right context but becomes deadly when excessive.
⚔️ Set vs. Horus: Semiconductor Chaos vs. Quantum Order
The eternal conflict between Set and Horus represents opposing material properties:
Set (SeT₂)
- Semiconductor (variable conductivity)
- Chaotic electron flow
- Unstable oxidation states
- Desert/disorder
- Classical physics (macroscopic chaos)
Horus (Ho₂Ru₂S₇)
- Quantum magnet (frustrated order)
- Coherent spin states
- Stable rare earth configuration
- Sky/cosmic order (Ma'at)
- Quantum physics (microscopic order)
Both contain sulfur/chalcogen chemistry (Te in Set, S in Horus), showing they are related but opposing forces—brothers in the periodic table, enemies in mythology.
🔬 Modern Applications: Harnessing Chaos
Set's chaotic properties have been harnessed in modern technology:
- Radiation shielding: Selenium glass blocks X-rays and gamma rays in medical/nuclear facilities
- Photovoltaic cells: CdTe (cadmium telluride) solar panels convert sunlight to electricity
- Thermoelectric devices: Se-Te compounds convert heat to electricity (storm energy → useful power)
- Photocopiers/xerography: Selenium drums (xerography = "dry writing," desert association)
- Semiconductor devices: Se-Te in transistors, rectifiers, switching elements
Like Set defending Ra while threatening cosmic order, these applications harness chaos (random electron movements) for ordered technological purposes.
🔗 Related Deity Theories
Set's selenium-tellurium theory interconnects with deities representing opposing or complementary chemical properties:
Periodic Table Position:
Chalcogen Family (Group 16):
O (Oxygen) → S (Sulfur) → ⬤ Se (Selenium) → ⬤ Te (Tellurium) → Po (Polonium)
Set = Selenium + Tellurium, the reactive middle children