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| Abydos. Part 3 |
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| Abydos. Part 3 |
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| Abydos. Part 3 |
- The second shrine is dedicated to the Islamic State, which you can see on two walls
- The sacred ship of the goddess, before which the king burned incense.
- The remaining reliefs show him making various offerings to Courage. rest
- Between this temple and the next were Nut, Osiris and
- Islamic State; Above (31) The king kneels and burns incense
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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The third sanctuary, dedicated to Osiris, leads into chambers specifically devoted to his worship, which will be detailed later. On the east wall (32), there is a depiction of the king burning incense before a shrine housing the emblem of Abydos: the wig and head of Osiris mounted on a pole. In front of the shrine stand five standards representing the Jackal Wepwat of the south, the Jackal Wepwat of the north, the Ibis of Hermopolis, the Hawk of the Horus tribes, and the figure of Anhur of Thinis. On the opposing wall (33), the sacred barque of Osiris is depicted, adorned with intricate ornamentation such as colored fans, plumes, Osiris' head above the shrine in the barque, and offerings of grapes, pomegranates, figs, and more. Between this sanctuary and the next, the wall recess features the figures of Mut, Amen-Ra, and Khonsu—the divine triad of Thebes (34). Above it, the king is shown kneeling between Amen-Ra and Osiris, adorned with the splendid regalia of royalty.
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Abydos. Part 3
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The fourth sanctuary, situated along the temple's central axis, is dedicated to Amen-Ra, the prominent deity of the empire. Unlike its counterparts, the sanctuary of Amen-Re is accessed via a flight of steps rather than an inclined plane. Noteworthy is the apparent vaulting of the chapel, although it is not true vaulting; rather, each course of the roof protrudes beyond the one below, eventually chiseled into an arch-like form, following the common Egyptian practice for such vaults. In the reliefs, Amen-Ra is sometimes depicted in the form of Min, as seen at the Luxor temple and elsewhere. The sacred barque of the god, accompanied by those of Mut and Khonsu, is depicted, adorned with vibrant fans, plumes, and insignia. Fruit and flowers are abundantly displayed before the barque: grapes, figs, pomegranates, trailing vines, and festoons of flowers, alongside jars of wine, golden statuettes, and more. Adjacent to this sanctuary, the subsequent recess in the wall features the figures of Harmachis, Amen-Ra, and Mut. Above it, a relief (35) portrays the king kneeling between Amen-Ra and the ram-headed Harmachis, receiving from the former a curved sword and a scepter, while holding a tame bird in his hand.
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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The fifth sanctuary is dedicated to Harmachis, and its reliefs bear resemblance to those previously observed. Positioned as the first on the left-hand side of the central shrine of Amen-Re, the sanctuary of Harmachis showcases reliefs depicting Seti before Harmachis and his Heliopolitan consort Ius-aas, accompanied by Atum and Hathor. In the subsequent recess, one finds the figures of Sekhmet, Ptah, and Harmachis. Above it, a sizable relief (36) illustrates the king within the sacred tree, upon whose leaves Ptah and Horus(?) inscribe his name.
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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The sixth sanctuary is devoted to Ptah, yet it is regrettably quite ruined. Here, one can once again observe the pristine white walls, which effectively highlight the intricate craftsmanship of the reliefs. Between this sanctuary and the subsequent one, the recess in the wall features the figures of the king, Thoth, and a funerary priest offering incense before Seti. The left-hand pier (37) displays a large scene that formerly depicted Seti making offerings to Ptah and Sekhmet. Unfortunately, the figure of Ptah has suffered damage over time.
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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The seventh and final sanctuary is dedicated to Seti I himself. Adorning its walls (38), we witness the king enthroned and carried by three hawk-headed beings referred to as "The Spirits of Pe," a city in the Delta, and three jackal-headed beings known as "The Spirits of Nekhen." These cities served as the ancient capitals of Lower and Upper Egypt, respectively. Before Seti I march the standards of Neith's shield and crossed arrows, the scorpion sign emblematic of Thebes, the disc and feathers of Amen-Ra, the hawk of the Horus tribes, the ibis of Hermopolis, and the jackals, Wepwat, representing the south and north. Positioned above, the king, holding the crook and flail, stands between Thoth and Nekheb on one side and Horus and Uazet on the other. Uazet and Nekheb are the patron deities of the aforementioned capitals. Moving forward (39), we encounter the king's barque, as he, like the gods, possessed an image carried in this portable vessel during temple processions. Another captivating scene (40) depicts him seated above the union sign of Nekheb and Uazet, while Horus and Thoth intertwine the stems of papyrus and lotus plants, with Safkhet recording the ceremonial union.
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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The Hall of Seker
Upon exiting the Second Hypostyle Hall, one enters the Hall of Seker situated on the left-hand side. Here, a significant departure from typical Egyptian architectural practice becomes evident. Instead of extending the building further along its main axis, Seti's architects opted to change course abruptly. They added a hall dedicated to the funerary god Seker (or Sokar), featuring shrines to Nefertum and Seker, along with various other courts and corridors.
The reason behind this change of axis remains somewhat obscure. While Mr. Arthur Weigall attributed it to the absence of a solid and stable foundation, the discovery of Seti's elaborate cenotaph suggests otherwise. This cenotaph, which had only recently been unearthed and partially excavated at the time of Weigall's writing, indicates that the decision was not solely influenced by shifting foundations. Instead, it appears to be linked to more pressing religious considerations.
Although the cenotaph may not be the Osireion, as Dr. Édouard Naville believed, it occupied a location deemed exceedingly sacred. This site could possibly be associated with the sacred spring mentioned by Strabo in his description of Abydos. It is conceivable that it was this sacred significance, rather than concerns over unstable foundations, that prompted Seti's architects to alter the temple's axis. This adjustment left the area behind its sanctuaries vacant, facilitating the construction of the massive underground structure for the royal cenotaph.
Seti did not complete the temple, and Ramses II, in his efforts to finish it, followed his customary practice of seeking maximum glory for himself from the achievements of his predecessors.
The Chamber of Tum consists of two rooms branching off the southern end of the hall. The first room features a vaulted roof, while the second one is currently roofless. The primary room is dedicated to Tum, and its reliefs depict the king venerating Tum along with other associated deities.
On the east wall (41), at the top, the king is depicted kneeling before a shrine housing various deities including the humanly-formed Ptah-Thenen, a disk-headed Amen-dwelling-in-Aten, a ded-headed Osiris-Unnefer, a sphinx representing the king, and the lion-headed Sekhmet. The symbol ded, which may symbolize the backbone of Osiris and signify "stability", is also present (to be seen at (52)). Below this, the king is depicted kneeling before the lion-headed Tum.
On the opposite wall (42), at the top, the king is shown worshipping before a shrine containing the mummified hawk of Seker, the lion-headed Tum, the ibis-headed Thoth, a naos containing a lotus and a crescent-moon associated with the worship of Tum, a sphinx representing the king, and the lion-headed Tum holding a flail and sacred eye. Below this, the king is depicted burning incense before a shrine containing a figure of Tum with a hawk and lotus upon his head, Nu the primeval water, Khepera, the dawn, with a scarab on his head, Thoth, and damaged figures of Neith and Uazet.
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Chamber of Ptah-Seker
Immerse yourself in the Chamber of Ptah-Seker, the second chamber in this ancient tomb. Its walls come alive with curious reliefs that whisper tales of gods and afterlife.
Turn your gaze to the east wall (43). A captivating scene unfolds before you (Image of Chamber of Ptah-Seker east wall relief). The king, in a gesture of reverence, kneels before a sacred naos. Two majestic hawks representing Seker, the god of the necropolis, reside within, their watchful gaze safeguarding the sacred space.
Behind the naos, a profound image takes center stage: the sarcophagus of Osiris. The god, crowned with the crown of Upper Egypt, rests upon a bier in eternal slumber. Above him, Isis, transformed into a protective hawk, hovers with wings outstretched, a symbol of unwavering devotion. Flanking the bier, the goddess in her human form and Horus stand vigilant, their presence offering solace and hope.
But the story doesn't end there. Look above this captivating scene. Here, you'll find Osiris himself, reborn and triumphant, holding the crook and flail, symbols of his divine power. Beside him stands the jackal-headed Anubis, the guide of souls through the underworld. And to their right, Nekheb, the vulture goddess, watches over with the crown of Upper Egypt, signifying protection and rebirth.
These intricate reliefs paint a vivid picture of the ancient Egyptians' deep-seated beliefs in death and the afterlife. Each element, from the falcon gods to the sarcophagus and protective deities, speaks to the power of transformation and regeneration. As you explore the chamber, imagine the awe and reverence these scenes inspired in those who gazed upon them centuries ago.
I hope this expanded description helps you visualize the Chamber of Ptah-Seker in all its fascinating detail!.
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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Abydos. Part 3
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مرحبا بكم فى دعم فنى انترنت نشكركم على التعليق سوف يتم الرد خلال دقائق .