Derketo

Goddess of Two Faces, Set's Whore

Derketo

Description

Female Derketo is a seductress deity, a goddess of passionate lust, sacred ecstasy and sexual pleasure, a temptress who attempts to win Pteor away from Ishtar.
In the Black Kingdoms Derketo is known as Derketa, death goddess and Queen of the Dead. The attributes of the two goddesses are quite different. She is a type of Earth Mother figure, a goddess of fertility as well as of death, symbolizing the circular nature of life. She is often represented as the mate of whatever god each tribe holds supreme. For example the Gallah of Punt represent her as the mate of #Jullah, or in Zembabwei as the consort of dagon.
Derketo originated as a Shemite deity, granted to Set as a war concession. The Stygians have great temples to Derketo in Luxur. Her attributes and her cult are considered obscene by most Hyborian standards.

Rituals and Beliefs

Men and women pray to Derketo for fertility and sexual virility. Derketo does not listen to men unless the man making the plea visits her cult and partakes of her prostitutes.
All young women in most Stygian cities are required to go to Temple of Derketo to learn about sexuality and freedom. Derketo rites are among the most orgiastic of Shem’s religions, even compared to Ishtar and Adonis’ ceremonies. In Stygia the orgy festival of Derketo begins with an exhibitionist show of dancers, priests and priestesses engaged in various sexual acts. The finale involve those in the audience joining in what becomes a mass, public orgy.

Priesthood

The dancers and priestesses for Derketo are also temple prostitutes, finding sex the best way to capture and hold onto male worshippers. Derketo’s sacred prostitutes are considered the embodiment of Derketo herself. The exotic techniques taught in the temples of Derketo are extremely intense. Certain dark ceremonies re-enact Derketo’s masterful arranging of the rape of Ashnan by El-Lil because Derketo desired to be the goddess of grain and beer. Other ceremonies re-enact the mating of Dagon and Derketo.

• The first mystery of Derketo teaches the initiate to project an aura of sexual ease, making others feel more comfortable, especially in matters regarding sex.
• The second mystery of Derketo teaches an inherent understanding of sexuality as it pertains to social situations.
• The third mystery of Derketo teaches the power of touch on the body, showing how to touch people to bring about certain effects.
• The fourth mystery of Derketo teaches the initiate to relish in conquest of new types of people.
• The fifth mystery is one of the magical nature of seduction and the uses of dance to reach into the inner core of people.
• The sixth mystery teaches the initiate how to enhance all of her abilities.

In the Black Kingdoms human sacrifice is part of Derketa’s ceremonies, achieved using the poisoned Apples of Derketa. The juice of these fruits can kill, by either ingestion or external application. Tribal priests of Derketa take the Carouser and Debaucher feats, focusing on curses, hypnotism and magical links for their magic. Sexual enslavement via magic is a common endto enemies of Derketa’s tribal priests.

Derketo/Derketa

Derketo Descriptor

DERKETO

(Intermediate Deity)

Pantheon:

• Shemite
• Southern Black Kingdoms
• Stygia

Gender: Feminine
Regions:

• Shem
• Southern Black Kingdoms
• Stygia

Representations:

• An extremely beautiful woman
• A nude queen with a crown of ostrich feathers standing on a lion
• Holding lotus in one hand and snakes in the other

Attributes:

• Gazelle
• Lion
• Star

Sphere of Power:

• Healing
• Seduction
• Life
• Sexual Power
• Birth
• War

Can Be Worshipped with Other Gods:

• Within Shemite Pantheon
• Within Southern Black Kingdoms Pantheon
• Within Stygian Pantheon

Conan Lore Archives
Hyboria.xoth.net
Faith and Fervour, Mongoose Publishing, 2006
Shem - Gateway to the South, Mongoose Publishing, 2006
Stygia - Serpent of the South, Mongoose Publishing, 2006