Ikhemu-sek
{{Short description|Group of ancient Egyptian deities}}
{{one source|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Egyptian
| name = Ikhemu-sek
| image = Ikhemu-sek.svg
| caption = The Ikhemu-sek, based from image the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I (KV17) Nineteenth Dynasty, astronomical vaulted ceiling Valley of the Kings
| cult_center =
| symbol = Stars, constellations
| hiero =
}}
{{Ancient Egyptian religion}}
File:Senenmut-Grab.JPG in the tomb of Senenmut (TT71) ]]The Ikhemu-sek ({{langx|egy|j.ḫmw-sk}} – literally "the ones not knowing destruction"{{Cite news |last=Teresi |first=Dick |date=2002-12-22 |title=The Nation; The Universe and Ground Zero |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/22/weekinreview/the-nation-the-universe-and-ground-zero.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |issn=0362-4331}} also known as the Imperishable ones) were a group of ancient Egyptian minor deities who were the personifications of the northern constellations.{{Cite web |title=Culture and Education:Opinion:WASEDA ONLINE |url=https://yab.yomiuri.co.jp/adv/wol/dy/opinion/culture_081006.html#:~:text=Northern%20constellations,%20imperishable%20stars&text=On%20ancient%20Egyptian%20tombs%20and,never%20sinking%20below%20the%20horizon. |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=yab.yomiuri.co.jp |archive-date=2023-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215204820/https://yab.yomiuri.co.jp/adv/wol/dy/opinion/culture_081006.html#:~:text=Northern%20constellations,%20imperishable%20stars&text=On%20ancient%20Egyptian%20tombs%20and,never%20sinking%20below%20the%20horizon. |url-status=dead }}
History
The northern constellations were depicted in the tomb of Senenmut on the astronomical ceiling. The Ikhemu-sek were also found on the astronomical vaulted ceilings of tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
Iconography
The Ikhemu-sek where portrayed as both animal and human-like: A woman, lion (leo), bull, man, falcon-headed man, man, and hippopotamus.