Theories like circle-drawing are powerful because they make sense to us. They draw together ritual practice, text, and image into a vivid narrative. But even the most persuasive interpretations need to be tested against the objects themselves. Sometimes the material record complicates the picture, suggesting new possibilities.
Turtle headed creatures are quite rare in iconography of ancient Egypt and examples are scattered through different contexts. We can meet them mostly in funerary sphere where they serve as guardians. In the case of late Third Intermediate Period coffins, turtle headed creatures can be seen on three different coffins dating to the times of 25th and 26th Dynasties.
This demon has a distinguishable iconography in which it can be seen as a hybridised being — an anthropomorphic, seated body with the head of a turtle. Within its hands it holds two daggers (be careful, this could be a dangerous being!) and is often seen protecting a gate within the netherworld. It could be classed as a guardian-demon.
There is much academic discussion over the definition of ancient Egyptian demons. A variety of modern terms have been used to describe these entities, including “genius,” “minor divinity,” and “demon” (alternatively spelt “daemon”).
“She lives from the blood of the damned and from her provisions which these gods give” is the Ancient Egyptian name of a goddess who consumes the unjustified dead.
What makes a demon such a genius? It is not that she is so very smart. “Genius” is the term used for a hybrid being who is composed of animal parts. A popular one in Ancient Egypt combined the form of a hippopotamus, lioness (or other big wild feline), and crocodile. This form is used for a number of entities including Taweret (“the Great One”), Ipet, and Reret.