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Showing posts from June, 2020

Symbols of Ancient Egypt : Scepters

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Today we are going to focus on a specific aspect of Ancient Egypt. The scepters or symbols of power: SCEPTER OR FLAGEL NEKHEH The scepter was an emblem of authority that the king held in his right hand. Its design remained consistent throughout Egypt's history, as depicted on the Narmer Palette. It is predominantly associated with Osiris, though connections to other deities like Min are also evident. There is no clear and concrete idea of what it represented due to the lack of evidence about it. The most widely accepted theories suggest that it represents a symbol of sovereignty with which the king guides his people. Others interpret its shape as that of a modified flail or a cattle prod. It is also associated with the afterlife and is considered the tool with which the deceased are led, connecting its bearer with the deities of the beyond. Another theory * 1 posits that it could be a rattle or an auditory guiding instrument since, in the Narmer Pale

Symbols of Ancient Egypt: The Legend of the Phoenix Bird

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Much has been discussed, and the image of the phoenix bird is widely recognized as the mythological creature that is reborn from its ashes in a perpetual cycle of rebirth. Yet, the origins and symbolism of this creature are not commonly known. To understand its beginnings, one must look to Kemet, known today as ancient Egypt, where a truly unique bird, the Benu bird, was venerated. This avian was intimately linked to the cycle of the underworld or Duat, embodying the 'ba', or soul, of deities such as Ra or Osiris (Usir). The name 'Benu' itself derives from a verb meaning 'to rise'. Legend holds that at the moment of creation, this bird alighted upon a rock amidst the primordial waters and let out a call that shattered the original silence, defining what would come into being. When Greek travelers reached Egypt, Herodotus recorded a variation of this myth. He described the bird as having a lifespan of five hundred years. At the end of its life, it would c

Symbols of Ancient Egypt: The Uadyet Eye

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The Uadyet, also known as Wadjet, is one of the best-known symbols of ancient Kemet (Egypt) and yet one of the most misunderstood today. The Eye of Horus is much more than it seems and cannot be limited to a phrase or a concept. First of all, it should be noted that its name is Uadyet, and it has multiple functions: 1- As the current conception of the Eye of Horus (Heru), due to the fact that Heru lost his left eye in the battle with his brother Set (also known as Suti) and it was Thoth (Yehuti) who restored it, returning its functionality, as narrated in formula 17 of the Book of the Dead. At the same time, Heru offered it to his father Osiris (Usir) to restore his sight. However, the eye is not always completely restored. His wounded eye is the moon, which grows as Heru's eye heals to full circumference, decreasing again as the eye weakens. For this reason, it was frequently used as a protective amulet. His right eye is the sun and also known as the Eye of Ra. 2- As a mathematica

Sources and interpretations of the culture of ancient Egypt

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Egyptian culture and mythology stand as one of the most intricate and fascinating systems of belief. Unlike Greek, Norse, or Inca mythologies, which present a wealth of narratives unified by a clear internal logic and supported by extensive oral and written traditions bringing them closer to our understanding, Egyptian mythology—referred to as Kemet in ancient times—does not follow this pattern. In the following discussion, we will delve into the reasons behind this and attempt to unravel the complex mechanisms that sustained the religious coherence of a civilization that thrived for over two millennia. As we delve into Egyptian mythology, we encounter an array of deities that manifest in diverse forms. A single god may be depicted in vastly different manners, such as an animal or an animal-headed human, for instance. This deity may merge with others, spawning new divine entities and iconographies, and may assume varied roles. Similarly, creation myths vary based on their city of origi