id4278843 pdfMachine by Broadgun Software - a great PDF writer! - a great PDF creator! - http://www.pdfmachine.com http://www.broadgun.com Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies "EJARS" An International peer-reviewed journal published bi-annually Volume 3, Issue 2, December - 2013: pp: 131 – 137 www. ejars.sohag-univ.edu.eg Original article PROTECTION SYMBOLS ON THE TOP OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM STELAE (IN CAIRO MUSEUM) El-Toukhy, M. Assist. Lecturer, Ancient Egyptian dept., Faculty of Archaeology and Tourism Guidance, Miser Univ. for Science and Technology, 6th October, Egypt. E-mail: [email protected] Received 24/6/2013 Accepted 21/11/2013 Abstract In ancient Egypt, Stela was decorated with a lunette, which is composed of special elements. These lunettes were both symbols of protection and defense. In Middle Kingdom stelae, one may find many protecting symbols; such as Wadjet-eyes, Jackel, and Winged sun-disk, all of these symbols are represented upon top of stelae in different forms. The research aims to throw light on the different forms of top of stelae decorating symbols of Middle Kingdom especially those located in Cairo Museum. Keywords: Stelae, Symbols, Wadjet-eyes, Top of Stela, Decoration, Middle Kingdom 1. Introduction Ancient Egyptian art is more the symbols at the top of the stelae in the than five thousand years old. It emerged Middle Kingdom. In spite of the and took shape in ancient Egypt, the importance of the purpose of their civilization of the Nile Valley. Expressed decorative symbols but it does not in paintings and sculptures, it was highly eliminate the religious content of its symbolic and fascinating - this art form legendary. Due to the highly religious revolves round the past and was nature of ancient Egyptian civilization, intended to keep history alive. This many of the great works of ancient Egypt paper is concerned with the Middle depict gods, goddesses, and Pharaohs, Kingdom stelae actually stored of the who were also considered divine. Cairo Museum. When I started to collect Symbolism also played an important role different stelae for comparative purposes, in establishing a sense of order. I soon realized that they should be dated Symbolism, ranging from the Pharaoh's to the same period presenting the similar regalia (symbolizing his power to features and displaying the different maintain order) to the individual symbols symbols that are used on the top of stela of Egyptian gods and goddesses, which decoration during the Middle Kingdom, was omnipresent in Egyptian art. it examines the emergence of some of 2. Stelae Egyptian stelae have set within on both sides of the entrance that leads the tomb, whether in chapels or carved to the chapel [1], or based on the wall of 131 the tomb [2] [3], also were individually rounded statement, and Cornice from the in front of the tomb [4]. They guide the top, which is already a tradition of Bous owner's soul to the burial place, and are buildings. * The indifferent form that considered a witness of the ownership of don't belong to the previous two forms, the owner of stela of the tomb [5]. In and acquires its importance from the other words, they ensure that this tomb scenes and inscriptions, and must belongs to him [1]. Müller divided the distinguish between tomb stelae, that ancient Egyptian stelae in terms of shapes distinguish the tombs known since the 1st and places into three groups [2]: * The Dynasty, which may consider tombstone form of the stelae of 1st dynasty kings in which don't carry only the deceased Abydos, which were held independently name and the depiction of him, but and their late forms were based on a determined as well as the place of vertical wall. * The developed form from offerings, and the monuments related to offering niches in the outer wall of the persons or certain events, especially that tomb in the 2nd dynasty in which the with a religious meaning that were offerings were represented. From the 5th common in the Middle Kingdom. dynasty demonstrated on both sides with 2.1. Terms In ancient Egypt, stelae are are several ancient Egyptian slabs of stone or wood, of many expressions for the term stela, which different shapes, usually bearing reflect its different purposes, as inscriptions, reliefs or paintings. There follows: 1- wD: with the meaning of stela/ tombstone and written by different forms: , , , , [6] [7] [8] [9] 2- abA:with the meaning of Stela/ offering stone/ tombstone and written by different forms: , , [6] [7] [8] [9] 3- aHaw: with the meaning of Stela/ memorial Stone and written by different forms: , , , [6] [7] [8] [9] 4- srx: with the meaning of tombstone/ memorial stone and written by the form: [8] 5- Sps: with the meaning of tombstone and written by: , [7] [8] There are specific determinatives as in Gardiner sign-list [10] as the that are used to give the meaning of following: stela in ancient Egypt; they are listed "O" 39: "O" 26: "Q" 6: "P" 6: 2.2. Definition The word 'Stela' in defining a commemorative purposes, most usually stone or wooden slab, generally taller decorated with the names and titles of than it is wide erected for funeral or the deceased or living inscribed, carved 132 in relief (bas-relief, sunken-relief, its first appearance was found in the 1st high-relief, and so forth), or painted Dynasty, that there was found Merka onto the slab. It can also be used as a Stela near many chapels that adorned territorial marker to delineate land the eastern façade of one of the ownership. In Greek óôÞëçstçlç [11]; Mastabas at Saqqara [5]. Middle plural: óôÞëáé stçlai which means Kingdom stelae were distinguished by pillar or vertical tablet. There are many its size magnitude, and they represented models of stelae in ancient Egypt and the scenes of its owner, and rarely varied scenery and decoration patterns, represented gods on them, except the these stelae have been developed purpose of protection [5]. Rounded- through several stages - since the Pre- stela style were common used also dynastic period and even up to the Greek rectangular and of irregular shape in and Roman Periods - this development the Cairo Museum Middle Kingdom includes their forms, scenes and stelae. In the selected stelae exist an decorations. Moreover, in the Middle unusual type of stela with curved base Kingdom, the so-called classical stela CG 20359. Most of the studied stelae dominated, since it is shaped as a are made of limestone. However, there rectangle stone pallet, which is are some stelae made of sandstone. sometimes styled with rounded-top, The use of high and low relief, as well most probably symbolizing the as drawing and coloring instead of firmament. [12]. All kinds of stelae are engraving are the most common used. used in Egypt in different eras, perhaps 3. Protection Symbols Stelae usually have both and defense. Symbols for "life" and depictions and inscriptions, executed in "regeneration," such as the Sn-ring or raised or sunken relief, or painted onto the nH-sign, as well as depictions of the surface. The space within the top deities (especially Wepwawt and curve of a stela is called the lunette, Anubis), have also appeared in the and it is composed of special lunettes. In this paper, the symbols decorative elements. On Middle which decorated the top of stela in the Kingdom stelae, the decoration of the Middle Kingdom will be analyzed lunette is clearly differentiated from through the symbols, Winged Sun- the rest. Typical elements used in Disk, wDAt, Sn, Vessel iab, Water decorating the lunettes were, for sign n and the Jackel, as follows: example Wedjat-eyes and the winged sun disk, both symbols of protection 3.1. The winged sun-disk The sun-disk is used in the rounded-stelae, rarely rectangular and ancient Egyptian Art in many different of irregular shape. Usually was above a forms of metaphorical expression of scene a God. Doha mentioned that the concepts associated with solar faith winged sun-disk is still deployed above [12], and the winged sun disk in one of the deity to whom the offering is the its most common forms [12]. Winged dedicatee [13], also seems it is more sun-disk seems to be appeared first in suitable for the protection of the gods. Edfu and reflects the union earths, It first appeared in Third dynasty which symbolize the two wings to scenes [12], and in decorating the top Upper and Lower Egypt, the same idea of rounded-stelae since Middle appears in decorating the sun disk by Kingdom [14]. Werbrouk pointed out couple of uraei [12]. It decorates top of that the two wings are not connected to 133 sun-disk, but instead they meet below. disk as Doha cited [13], which So the wings are separated from the appeared in few examples(a). 2- The dick. [15]. There are only two winged last form with long uraei in one sun disk forms appeared in Middle example: CG 20601. The winged sun- Kingdom Stelae: 1- The simple disk represented combined with the form committed with couple of wedjat-eyes and two jackels in: CG uraei making the form CG 20397. 20678, perhaps the wings protects the scene and the uraei protects the sun- 3.2. The Deities The divine figures on private Min standing before a peculiar symbol stelae of the Middle Kingdom are and facing a jackel with the name of certainly the most characteristic feature god Wepwawt and his titles, also in in the evolution of these monuments CG 20085 which was decorated by after the First Intermediate Period [16].