Was ("power") scepters represent the Set-animal (the Egyptian god Sutekh). Was scepters were carried by gods, pharaohs, and priests, as a symbol of power, and in later use, control over the force of chaos (Set). The head and forked tail of the Set-animal are clearly present. Was scepters are often depicted in paintings, drawings, and carvings of gods, and remnants of real Was scepters have been found constructed of faience or wood.

The Was () is also the Egyptian hieroglyph character that stands for a word meaning power.

In their 2004 book "The Quick and the Dead", Andrew H. Gordon and Calvin W. Schwabe speculated that the Ankh, Djed and Was symbols have a biological basis derived from ancient cattle culture, thus:

• the Ankh - symbol of life - thoracic vertebrae of a bull (seen in cross section)
• the Djed - symbol of stability - base or sacrum of a bull's spine
• the Was - symbol of power and dominion - a staff made from a dried bull's penis that was the symbol for the goddess Wosret or Wasret

), as represented in the tomb of Thutmose III (KV34).]]

Ancient EgyptAncient Egyptian ReligionAncient Egyptian ArtifactsHieroglyphsEgyptian words and phrasesOuas