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SHIP OF THE GOD: THE AMUN-USERHET IN NEW KINGDOM EGYPT A Thesis by MEGAN ELIZABETH COLLIER Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Chair of Committee, Shelley Wachsmann Committee Members, Deborah Carlson Kevin Glowacki Head of Department, Cynthia Werner December 2013 Major Subject: Anthropology Copyright 2013 Megan Elizabeth Collier ABSTRACT The Amun-Userhet was a ship which played a crucial role in the development of religious thought in New Kingdom Egypt. The pharaoh and his entourage sailed down the Nile on its deck as part of a religious celebration called the Opet festival. This festival commemorated the annual renewal of the royal Ka and reinforced the order of the universe. This ship was the bridge between the human world and the divine. No one has found any archaeological remains of the ship, but iconography, artifacts that would have adorned a miniature version of the Amun-Userhet, and written sources offer an accurate depiction. From this evidence we know that this ship was gilded and covered in precious gems. It also had a specific formula of symbols attached to it that can give us insight into its function in New Kingdom religion. Through the review of the surviving iconography, artifacts, and written accounts of the Amun-Userhet, this thesis looks at the role this ship played in the development of New Kingdom religion. This ship was not only the bridge between the human and divine, but was also the bridge between the state religion of the Old and Middle Kingdom and the new idea of personal piety that arose in the New Kingdom. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair Dr. Shelley Wachsmann for the support and guidance he has shown me throughout the course of my work. I would also like to thank my committee, Dr. Deborah Carlson and Dr. Kevin Glowacki for their encouragement and direction. To my friends and colleagues at Texas A&M I would like to offer my great appreciation for the wonderful time we spent both in and out of the classroom. To my parents who provided immeasurable academic, emotional, and financial assistance I am profoundly grateful. iii NOMENCLATURE Amarna Period- The reign of Ankhenaten (Amunhotep IV). He ruled for a short period toward the end of the XVIIIth dynasty.1 During his reign he founded the monotheistic movement of Atenism and tried to destroy the priesthood of Amun. This only lasted a short period after which Tutankhamun re-established the traditional state religion. Amun-Userhet- The ship of Amun. Aten- The solar god Ankhenaten attempted to worship exclusively. Bau- A negative force sent from a god which can cause a person misfortune, anxiety, guilt, or strange behavior. Ka- The spirit which gives an individual life. Ma’at- When italicized, it means truth, justice, or the right way to live. Having Ma’at mean that the order of the universe was not disrupted. When not italicized it refers to the goddess who was the physical embodiment of truth. Nomes- Regional areas or cities usually represented by standards. Rekhy- A glyph that represented the populace. Waas- scepter- A symbol carried by Khonsu. Usually depicted as . Wife of Amun- A poorly understood title given to a royal woman. She was a member of an order of priestesses who oversaw the estate of Amun and tended to his daily rituals. 1 For chronological information see Kitchen 1991. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………...ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………..iii NOMENCLATURE……………………………………………………………………..iv TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………………...v LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………...vi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION TO THE FESTIVAL OF THE OPET…………………1 CHAPTER II OVERVIEW OF THE DEPICTIONS OF THE AMUN-USERHET........ 16 Hull Decorations ....................................................................................................... 25 Deck Structure .......................................................................................................... 32 Pharaoh ..................................................................................................................... 33 Other Human Figures ............................................................................................... 37 Gods Depicted on the Amun-Userhet ....................................................................... 40 Goddesses Depicted on the Amun-Userhet .............................................................. 42 Standards .................................................................................................................. 44 The Offering Table ................................................................................................... 47 Offerings ................................................................................................................... 48 The Souls of Pe and Nekhen .................................................................................... 49 Djed Pillars ............................................................................................................... 50 Religious Significance of Iconographic Components………………………...……51 CHAPTER III REFERENCES TO THE AMUN-USERHET IN LITERATURE………53 CHAPTER IV THE ROLE OF THE AMUN-USERHET IN THE OPET FESTIVAL....58 CHAPTER V PERSONAL PIETY AND THE AMUN-USERHET…………..………...65 CHAPTER VI CONCLUSIONS………………….…………………………………….74 REFERENCES………………………………….………………………………………77 v LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. General chronology of Ancient Egypt. From Kitchen 1991, pg. 206. .............. 2 Figure 2. Path of the festival of Opet. From Bell 1997, pg. 159 fig. 65. .......................... 4 Figure 3. Plan of temple of Karnak. From Otto 1968, pg. 87 fig. 10. ................................ 9 Figure 4. Modern plan of Luxor. From El-Razik 1974, pg. 143. ..................................... 11 Figure 5. A sphinx standard from a portable shrine. From Hill and Schorsch 2007, pg. 107. ................................................................................................................. 17 Figure 6. Depiction of the Amun-Userhet from the Chappelle Rouge, which dates to the reign of Hatshepsut. From Burgos and Larché 2006, pg. 60. ......................... 19 Figure 7. The Amun-Userhet from Deir El Bahari. From Naville 1908, pl. CXXII. ...... 20 Figure 8. Stern of the Amun-Userhet dating to the XIXth dynasty depicted in Theban Tomb No. 19 at Dra Abul-Nagga. It is unclear to which pharaoh’s reign this tomb dates. From Foucart 1922, pl. 14. ............................................................ 21 Figure 9. Fragment from Deir el Medina showing the mid-section of the Amun-Userhet with the cabin. Possibly dates to the XXth dynasty. From Foucart 1922, fig.7. .............................................................................................. 22 Figure 10. Depiction of a very schematic Amun-Userhet approaching a quay from the Mut complex at Karnak. The exact provenience of this fragment is debatable, but it most likely dates from the Third Intermediate Period. From Benson 1899, pl. XXII fig. 4. ............................................................................ 23 Figure 11. Bow of Amun-Userhet dating to the reign of Ramesses II with tow-line connecting to the stern of the royal ship. After Nelson 1981, pl. 38. ................... 25 Figure 12. Ram’s head finial dating to the reign of Ramesses II. After Nelson 1981, pl. 38. .................................................................................................................... 26 Figure 13. Sphinx standard and Wadjet eye on the bow of the Amun-Userhet dating to the reign of Ramesses II. After Nelson 1981, pl. 38. ....................................... 27 Figure 14. Wadjet eye on solar barque. From Karlshausen 2009, pl. 1. .......................... 27 vi Figure 15. Amun-Userhet from the east wall of Luxor dating to the reign of Tutankhamun. From The Epigraphic Study 1994, pl. 76. .................................... 28 Figure 16. Amun-Userhet depicted on the Third Pylon at Karnak dating to the reign of Amenhotep III. It was reworked during the reign of Tutankhamun. From Lubicz 1999, pl. 96 and 97. .................................................................................. 29 Figure 17. Amun-Userhet depicted on the temple of Khonsu at Karnak dating to the reign of Herihor. From Epigraphic Study 1979, pl. 21. ................................. 30 Figure 18. Small Amun-Userhet depicted on the hull. After Epigraphic Study 1994, pl. 76. .................................................................................................................... 31 Figure 19. Unveiled cabin containing the portable boat shrine dating to the reign of Seti I. After Nelson 1981, pl. 152. ....................................................................... 33 Figure 20. Ramesses II making an offering to Amun-Re’s boat shrine. After Nelson 1981, pl. 38. .......................................................................................................... 34 Figure 21. Amun-Userhet of Ramesses II in the great Hypostyle hall of Karnak. From Nelson 1981, pl. 152. .................................................................................. 35 Figure 22. Amun-Userhet of Seti I in the great Hypostyle hall of Karnak. From Nelson 1981, pl. 38. ............................................................................................. 36 Figure 23. Priests standing on stern of Amun-Userhet. After