Evolution of Egyptian Religion Reflected in Temple Architecture and Design
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Ancient Egyptian Religion I: General Concepts and the Heliopolitan Gods
Ancient Egyptian Religion I: General Concepts and the Heliopolitan Gods Shawn C. Knight Spring 2009 (This document last revised March 18, 2009) 1 The nature of Egyptian religion (intro) The Egyptian idea of \deity" is a difficult one to pin down. The most frequently used word for deity, ' 4 ntr (or nTr), resembles the English word god in that it can be used as either a common noun, referring to one of numerous divine beings, or as a proper noun, referring to the Supreme Being. Much more problematic than the word used, however, are the details of what the gods do and even who they are. Gods become conflated with one another; most notably, there are (at least) two gods named Horus, designated \Elder" and \Younger", and they share a number of traits, often being confused (deliberately or mistakenly). The gods usurp one another's roles, or delegate their roles to others, with astounding frequency. It is Set's role to protect the sun god from the serpent of chaos|except when Horus has that function. The Supreme Being is Re-Atum, except when he is Amun-Re, except when he is simply Re or simply Atum or . Adding still further to the complication is the local character of Egyptian religion. Every nome had a patron god, and while some of the gods patronized more than one nome, there was plenty of variety. We have already considered this to some degree: we have noted Thebes, for example, as having Amun for a patron, and observed that the military rise of the Thebans in the Middle and New Kingdoms were responsible for the enrichment and empowerment of Amun's cult. -
Dendara. Gergory Marouard
DENDARA DENDARA Gregory Marouard Dendara (Tentyra, Iunet) is one of the major archaeological sites north of the Theban region and the ancient capital of the sixth nome of Upper Egypt, Iqer, the Crocodile nome. The site is located 55 km (34 mi) north of the Luxor area and 5 km (3 mi) south of the modern town of Qena. Situated on the “West Bank” from an ancient Egyptian perspective, Dendara lies south of the river, in a curving bend of the Nile, the only part of the valley where the river runs from the east to the w est (fig. 1). Today the site is positioned along the desert fringe of the Nile valley floodplain. It seems quite likely that the river — currently situated 2 km to the north — flowed much closer to the site in ancient times. Well known by its sanctuary complex of the goddess Hathor, which dates back to the late Ptolemaic and early Roman periods (fig. 2), the main temple is one of the most iconic and the best preserved, with the Ptolemaic temple at Edfu-Behedet. Those two sanctuaries, the temple of Hathor at Dendara and the temple of Horus in Edfu, were always considered as sister-sites sharing a close religious connection. The triad of Edfu (Horus, Hathor, Harsomtus/Ihy) was honored in both temples and every year in the month of Epiphi (Season of Shemu), when the Nile waters were at the lowest level, the “Feast of the Beautiful Reunion” was celebrated. The statue of Hathor left its temple and traveled upstream by boat to the south in order to join her consort Horus in Edfu. -
Egyptian Interest in the Oases in the New Kingdom and a New Stela for Seth from Mut El-Kharab
Egyptian Interest in the Oases in the New Kingdom and a New Stela for Seth from Mut el-Kharab Colin Hope and Olaf Kaper The study of ancient interaction between Egypt and the occupants of regions to the west has focused, quite understandably, upon the major confrontations with the groups now regularly referred to as Liby- ans from the time of Seti I to Ramesses III, and the impact these had upon Egyptian society.1 The situ- ation in the oases of the Western Desert and the role they might have played during these conflicts has not received, until recently, much attention, largely because of the paucity of information either from the Nile Valley or the oases themselves. Yet, given their strategic location, it is not unrealistic to imagine that their control would have been of importance to Egypt both during the confrontations and in the period thereafter. In this short study we present a summary of recently discovered material that contributes sig- nificantly to this question, with a focus upon discoveries made at Mut el-Kharab since excavations com- menced there in 001,3 and a more detailed discussion of one object, a new stela with a hymn dedicated to Seth, which is the earliest attestation of his veneration at the site. We hope that the comments will be of interest to the scholar to whom this volume is dedicated; they are offered with respect, in light of the major contribution he has made to Ramesside studies, and with thanks for his dedication as a teacher and generosity as a colleague. -
Temples and Tombs Treasures of Egyptian Art from the British Museum
Temples and Tombs Treasures of Egyptian Art from The British Museum Resource for Educators this is max size of image at 200 dpi; the sil is low res and for the comp only. if approved, needs to be redone carefully American Federation of Arts Temples and Tombs Treasures of Egyptian Art from The British Museum Resource for Educators American Federation of Arts © 2006 American Federation of Arts Temples and Tombs: Treasures of Egyptian Art from the British Museum is organized by the American Federation of Arts and The British Museum. All materials included in this resource may be reproduced for educational American Federation of Arts purposes. 212.988.7700 800.232.0270 The AFA is a nonprofit institution that organizes art exhibitions for presen- www.afaweb.org tation in museums around the world, publishes exhibition catalogues, and interim address: develops education programs. 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1514 New York, NY 10168 after April 1, 2007: 305 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017 Please direct questions about this resource to: Suzanne Elder Burke Director of Education American Federation of Arts 212.988.7700 x26 [email protected] Exhibition Itinerary to Date Oklahoma City Museum of Art Oklahoma City, Oklahoma September 7–November 26, 2006 The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens Jacksonville, Florida December 22, 2006–March 18, 2007 North Carolina Museum of Art Raleigh, North Carolina April 15–July 8, 2007 Albuquerque Museum of Art and History Albuquerque, New Mexico November 16, 2007–February 10, 2008 Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art, History and Science Fresno, California March 7–June 1, 2008 Design/Production: Susan E. -
Teacher's Guide for Calliope
Teacher’s Guide for Calliope Majestic Karnak, Egypt’s Home of the Gods September 2009 Teacher’s Guide prepared by: Nancy Attebury, B.S. Elementary Ed., M.A. Children’s Literature. She is a children’s author from Oregon. In the Beginning pg. 4 (Drawing conclusions) Use pgs. 3 and 4 and the facts below to get answers. FACT: Karnak structures are north of Luxor today, but were inside the city of Thebes long ago. QUESTION 1: How would the area of Thebes compare in size to the city of Luxor? FACT: Karnak was the site of local festivals. QUESTION 2: What good would it do to have Karnak in the middle of Thebes instead of on the edge? FACT: King Montuhotep II, a 11th Dynasty king, conquered many centers of power. QUESTION 3: Why could Montuhotep II unify Egypt? FACT: Set and Horus poured “the waters of life” over the pharaoh Seti I. QUESTION 4: Why were the “waters of life” important to a ruler? Karnak Grows pg. 5 (Gathering information) Place Hatshepsut, Senwosret, Amenhotep III, Thurmose III, and Amenhotep I in the correct blanks. Ruler’s name What the ruler did Added a new temple to honor Mut, Amun’s wife. Added a building that became the Holy of Holies. It was called Akh-Menu Remodeled a temple that had been damaged by floodwaters. Made a temple four times larger than it was before. Destroyed the front of Senwosret’s old temple. A Beehive of Activity pg. 8 (Deducing) Use the article from p. 8 and the map plans on p. -
Chapter5 the Divine Family: Osiris, Isis and Horus
Chapter5 The Divine Family: Osiris, Isis and Horus Objectives To familiarize your students with the myth of the divine family and to understand the role these gods played in the Egyptian religion. Mystery The Egyptian pharaohs believed they were descended from the gods. Where did this idea come from? Discussion and Research Projects 1. What are the names of the three members of the divine Egyptian family? 2. What was the parents’ mission on earth? 3. What did they teach humanity? 4. How did Seth murder his brother Osiris? 5. Where did Isis find her husband’s coffin and how did she bring it back? 6. What form did Isis take when she magically conceived her son Horus? 7. What did Seth do when he found Osiris’s coffin after it was returned to Egypt? 8. What did Isis do to restore Osiris to eternal life? 9. Where did Isis go to protect her child? What powers did she have to protect him from danger? 10. What did Seth do to try to kill the infant Horus? Mysteries of Egypt — Teacher’s Guide 11. How did the god Thoth cure Horus? What happened to the sun when Horus was bitten by a poisonous snake? 12. Horus became the first pharaoh god of the Egyptian people. What would happen to the earth if the people did not continue to love and care for Horus? 13. What did Isis do to gain the power of the sun god, Re? What secrets do you think she got from him? 14. How did Horus learn the secret name of the sun god? 15. -
The Newsletter of the Friends of the Egypt Centre, Swansea
Price 50p INSCRIPTIONS The Newsletter of the Friends of the Egypt Centre, Swansea Whatever else you do this Issue 28 Christmas… December 2008 In this issue: Re-discovery of the Re-discovery of the South Asasif Necropolis 1 South Asasif Necropolis Fakes Case in the Egypt Centre 2 by Carolyn Graves-Brown ELENA PISCHIKOVA is the Director of the South Introducing Ashleigh 2 Asasif Conservation Project and a Research by Ashleigh Taylor Scholar at the American University in Cairo. On Editorial 3 7 January 2009, she will visit Swansea to speak Introducing Kenneth Griffin 3 on three decorated Late Period tombs that were by Kenneth Griffin recently rediscovered by her team on the West A visit to Highclere Castle 4 Bank at Thebes. by Sheila Nowell Life After Death on the Nile: A Described by travellers of the 19th century as Journey of the Rekhyt to Aswan 5 among the most beautiful of Theban tombs, by L. S. J. Howells these tombs were gradually falling into a state X-raying the Animal Mummies at of destruction. Even in their ruined condition the Egypt Centre: Part One 7 by Kenneth Griffin they have proved capable of offering incredible Objects in the Egypt Centre: surprises. An entire intact wall with an Pottery cones 8 exquisitely carved offering scene in the tomb of by Carolyn Graves-Brown Karakhamun, and the beautifully painted ceiling of the tomb of Irtieru are among them. This promises to be a fascinating talk from a very distinguished speaker. Please do your best to attend and let’s give Dr Pischikova a decent audience! Wednesday 7 January 7 p.m. -
The Ptolemies: an Unloved and Unknown Dynasty. Contributions to a Different Perspective and Approach
THE PTOLEMIES: AN UNLOVED AND UNKNOWN DYNASTY. CONTRIBUTIONS TO A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND APPROACH JOSÉ DAS CANDEIAS SALES Universidade Aberta. Centro de História (University of Lisbon). Abstract: The fifteen Ptolemies that sat on the throne of Egypt between 305 B.C. (the date of assumption of basileia by Ptolemy I) and 30 B.C. (death of Cleopatra VII) are in most cases little known and, even in its most recognised bibliography, their work has been somewhat overlooked, unappreciated. Although boisterous and sometimes unloved, with the tumultuous and dissolute lives, their unbridled and unrepressed ambitions, the intrigues, the betrayals, the fratricides and the crimes that the members of this dynasty encouraged and practiced, the Ptolemies changed the Egyptian life in some aspects and were responsible for the last Pharaonic monuments which were left us, some of them still considered true masterpieces of Egyptian greatness. The Ptolemaic Period was indeed a paradoxical moment in the History of ancient Egypt, as it was with a genetically foreign dynasty (traditions, language, religion and culture) that the country, with its capital in Alexandria, met a considerable economic prosperity, a significant political and military power and an intense intellectual activity, and finally became part of the world and Mediterranean culture. The fifteen Ptolemies that succeeded to the throne of Egypt between 305 B.C. (date of assumption of basileia by Ptolemy I) and 30 B.C. (death of Cleopatra VII), after Alexander’s death and the division of his empire, are, in most cases, very poorly understood by the public and even in the literature on the topic. -
Egyptian Religion a Handbook
A HANDBOOK OF EGYPTIAN RELIGION A HANDBOOK OF EGYPTIAN RELIGION BY ADOLF ERMAN WITH 130 ILLUSTRATIONS Published in tile original German edition as r handbook, by the Ge:r*rm/?'~?~~ltunf of the Berlin Imperial Morcums TRANSLATED BY A. S. GRIFFITH LONDON ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & CO. LTD. '907 Itic~mnoCLAY B 80~8,L~~II'ED BRIIO 6Tllll&I "ILL, E.C., AY" DUN,I*Y, RUFIOLP. ; ,, . ,ill . I., . 1 / / ., l I. - ' PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION THEvolume here translated appeared originally in 1904 as one of the excellent series of handbooks which, in addition to descriptive catalogues, are ~rovidedby the Berlin Museums for the guida,nce of visitors to their great collections. The haud- book of the Egyptian Religion seemed cspecially worthy of a wide circulation. It is a survey by the founder of the modern school of Egyptology in Germany, of perhaps tile most interest- ing of all the departments of this subject. The Egyptian religion appeals to some because of its endless variety of form, and the many phases of superstition and belief that it represents ; to others because of its early recognition of a high moral principle, its elaborate conceptions of a life aftcr death, and its connection with the development of Christianity; to others again no doubt because it explains pretty things dear to the collector of antiquities, and familiar objects in museums. Professor Erman is the first to present the Egyptian religion in historical perspective; and it is surely a merit in his worlc that out of his profound knowledge of the Egyptian texts, he permits them to tell their own tale almost in their own words, either by extracts or by summaries. -
House of Eternity: Tomb of Nefertari
- - - OUSE OF ETERNITY The Tomb of Nefertari John K. McDonald The Getty Conservation Institute and the J. Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles Cover/title page: Detail a/Queen Nefertari 0/'1 the north wall of Chamber G. All photographs are by Guillermo Aldana unless credited otherwise. The Getty Conservation Institute works internationally to further the appreciation and preservation of the world's cultural heritage for the enrichment and use of present and future generations. This is the first volume in the Conservation and Cultural Heritage series, which aims to provide in a popular format information about selected culturally significant sites throughout the world. © 1996 The J. Paul Getty Trust All rights reserved Printed in Singapore Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data McDonald. John K. House of eternity: the tomb of Nefertari I John K. McDonald. p. cm. ISBN 0-89236-415-7 1. Nefertari. Queen. consort of Rameses II. King of Egypt-Tomb. 2. Mural painting and decoration. Egyptian. 3. Tombs-Egypt. 4. Valley of the Queens (Egypt) I. Title. DT73· v34M35 1996 932-dc20 96-24123 C1P Contents Foreword 5 Introduction Dynasties of Ancient Egypt II Nefertari: Radiant Queen A Letter from Nefertari The Queen's Titles and Epithets 19 The Valley of the Queens Ernesto Schiaparelli 25 Conveyance to Eternal Life: The Royal Tombs of Egypt Tomb Paints and Materials 33 The Tomb Builders' Village 37 After Nefertari's Burial 41 Resurrection and Recurrent Risks 47 The King of the Dead and His Divine Family Divine Guidance 55 Among the Immortals: A Walk through the "House of Eternity" The Texts in the Tomb III Conclusion 116 Acknowledgments II HOUSE OF ETER ITY an honored and < > beloved queen, still in the prime of earthly existence, set off upon a voyage to the netherworld, in quest of eternal life. -
Ancient Egyptian Dieties
Ancient Egyptian Dieties Amun: When Amun’s city, Thebes, rose to power in the New Kingdom (1539-1070 B.C.), Amun became known as the “King of the Gods.” He was worshipped as the high god throughout Egypt. Able to take many shapes, Amun was sometimes shown as a ram or goose, but was usually shown in human form. He is fundamentally a Creator God and his name, Amun, means “The Hidden One.” Amun-Re: Originating in the Middle Kingdom, (2055 - 1650 B.C.), Amun-Re is a fusion of the Gods Amun and Re. He combined the invisible power of creation and the power visible in heat and light. Anubis: Usually represented as a black jackal, or as a human with a canine head, Anubis was a guardian of mummies, tombs, and cemeteries, as well as an escort of the deceased to the afterlife. Atum: According to the most ancient Egyptian creation myths, Atum is the creator of the world. He also brought the first gods Shu (air), Tefnut (water), Geb (earth), and Nut (sky) to Egypt. He is also god of the setting sun. Atum was represented in many forms such as a human, a human with the head of a ram, and a combination of an eel and a cobra. Bastet: Originating as early as Dynasty II (2820-2670 B.C.), Bastet was represented as a cat or a woman with a lioness’s head. She eventually became Egypt’s most important “cat goddess.” If Bastet took the form of a cat she was considered content, but if Bastet was a lioness she was considered an angry goddess. -
The Secrets of Egypt & the Nile
the secrets of egypt & the nile 2021 - 2022 Dear Valued Guest, Egypt has captured the world’s imagination and continues to make an extraordinary impression on those who visit; and beginning in September 2021, we are delighted to take you there. While traveling along Egypt’s Nile River, you’ll be treated to a connoisseur’s discovery of this ancient civilization as only AmaWaterways can provide—with an unparalleled river cruise and land adventure that includes exquisite cuisine, beautiful accommodations, authentic excursions and extraordinary service. Your journey along the world’s longest river on board our spectacular, newly designed AmaDahlia will take you to some of Egypt’s most iconic sites. Discover ancient splendors such as the Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak, the beguiling Temple of Luxor and the mystifying Valley of the Kings and Queens, along with exclusive access to the Tomb of Queen Nefertari. While in Cairo, you’ll stay at the 5-star Four Seasons at The First Residence, an oasis in the middle of the city, where each day, you’ll experience some of the world’s most astonishing antiquities. Come face to face with King Tut’s priceless discoveries at the Egyptian Museum, as well as the Great Sphinx and the three Pyramids of Giza, the last surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; and gain private access to Cairo’s Abdeen Presidential Palace. This mesmerizing destination has entranced archaeologists and historians for generations and inspired its own field of study—Egyptology. Now it’s time for you to be entranced. We look forward to sharing Egypt with you.