Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, part 2
Feb. 22nd, 2008 01:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dragoness_eRosicrucian Egyptian Museum, part 1
This installment continues with funerary offerings, mostly. Quotes are from museum display placards.
Funerary Stele
There are several of these in the museum, dedicated to various people. The idea was that people would make offerings to and pray for you after you died, without having to trouble themselves to go visit your tomb up in the back end of some West Bank cemetary.
Little jars of various shapes
(3) is the one on the far left. The other jars at (6) are unguent and perfume bottles, I believe. I'm not sure what the items at (5) are for.
Stele of Herihor
The very last line actually tells us who Herihor was. He was the official that got to maintain order in the portside of Abydos, a very popular, very busy pilgrimage destination. Locally, he would have been moderately important.
Naqada I pottery
The Naqada culture is one of the pre-dynastic, pre-historic ancient Egyptian cultures. It's the first one that spread through most of upper Egypt, along the river. This black-topped red pottery is distinctive and characteristic of Naqada-ware. This particular set was found as part of a pre-dynastic burial.
Next: Religion and other Elite Professions
This installment continues with funerary offerings, mostly. Quotes are from museum display placards.
Funerary Stele
"Tablets like this were meant to be donation stelae. They were placed in public locations, such as in the halls of temples. The fine workmanship was intended to draw the eye, so the viewer would speak the offering formula written on the stone."
There are several of these in the museum, dedicated to various people. The idea was that people would make offerings to and pray for you after you died, without having to trouble themselves to go visit your tomb up in the back end of some West Bank cemetary.
Little jars of various shapes
"(3) This vessel is a ritual hs jar, used for offering libations to the gods and the deceased. In ancient Egypt, vessels had varied shapes to assure proper use. For instance, one would never use an hs jar for a drinking vessel."
(3) is the one on the far left. The other jars at (6) are unguent and perfume bottles, I believe. I'm not sure what the items at (5) are for.
Stele of Herihor
"Translation, top registers:
Line 1: (Osiris) Lord of Eternity, King of the Gods, Onnophris, Prince of Eternity
Line 2: Isis the Great, Mother of God, Lady of Heaven,
Line 3: Offering given by the king to Osiris Khentiamentiu after making the funerary offerings of beef, geese, and all things good and pure...
Line 4: Militia Chief, Director of Watchers... at Abydos Port.
Translation, bottom registers:
Line 1: Offering of the king to Osiris Khentiamentiu, Lord of Abydos, to Isis, the great...
Line 2: To Anubis who is in the oasis, Great God, Lord of the Cemetary
Line 3: to the Militia Chief, Director of the Watchers, who conducted the port of Abydos, Herihor."
The very last line actually tells us who Herihor was. He was the official that got to maintain order in the portside of Abydos, a very popular, very busy pilgrimage destination. Locally, he would have been moderately important.
Naqada I pottery
The Naqada culture is one of the pre-dynastic, pre-historic ancient Egyptian cultures. It's the first one that spread through most of upper Egypt, along the river. This black-topped red pottery is distinctive and characteristic of Naqada-ware. This particular set was found as part of a pre-dynastic burial.
Next: Religion and other Elite Professions
