How to pronounce Djedu: djeh-DOO

Alternative names: Busiris Per-Wesir Abu Sir Bana

Buildings: Temple of Aset Temple of Djehuty Temple of Heru-Khent-khety Old Kingdom Animal Necropolis

Djedu was the chief town of the 9th Nome Andjety in Lower Egypt, and stood west of Sais, near the Phatnitic mouth on the western bank of the Damietta Branch of the Nile. The small city dates back to the predynastic times when the Delta was composed of two kingdoms. Djedu was the capital city of the eastern part while Behdet was the capital city of the West. Djedu was referred to as Per-Wesir-Neb-Djedu, meaning "House of Wesir - Lord of Djedu". The Greeks called it Busiris, after the shortened title Per-Wesir "The House of Wesir".

In the legend of Wesir when the god's body parts were scattered throughout Egypt, Djedu laid claim to the burial of the god's backbone (represented by the Djed pillar). Like Abydos, which became known as the major cult centre of Wesir, Djedu was also a pilgrimage destination and is mentioned in many Old Kingdom texts, such as in the tomb of Ti at Saqqara as well as the Middle Kingdom tombs of Beni Hasan. The Festival of Jubilation for Wesir in Djedu; Raising the Djed for Wesir is celebrated on the 6th Pamenot.

The first god to be revered in Djedu was Heqaandjet or Andjety a god responsible for the rebirth of the dead individuals in their afterlife. However, some scholars think that Andjety could have been a local ruler or king. During the 11th dynasty, Andjety became assimilated to Wesir, at the time a local god responsible for fertility and the success of crops. Wesir was doted with Andjety's royal attributes (crook and flail) and the combination of the two gods proved succesful as it turned Wesir into one of the most prominent gods in the Egyptian pantheon.