This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(September 2021)
The Cavern deities of the underworld were ancient Egyptian minor deities charged with punishing the damned souls by beheading and devouring them.[1][2][3]
Jackal and lion-headed guardian deities with swords, from the Tomb of Sadosiris (El Muzawaka, Dakhla Oasis).
The Egyptians believed that in the underworld, the Duat, there were at least twelve caves and caverns inhabited by terrible deities and supernatural creatures that would feed on the souls of the wicked. Several funerary papyri – in addition to the wall decorations of some tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the southern hall of the Osireion at Abydos – list these deities involved in the extermination (usually by beheading) of the enemies of the sun-godRa and of his daughter Maat, goddess of truth and justice.[1] In particular, these creatures are systematically listed in the "Spell of the Twelve Caves" known from a papyrus (Cairo 24742)[4] dating back to the reign of PharaohAmenhotep II (c. 1427–1401 BC) of the 18th Dynasty.[1]
The first seven caverns contained groups of three mummiform and three anthropomorphic deities, two male and one female in each triad. From the 8th to the 20th cavern, one would find divinities in variable numbers: in the 8th, for example, there were seven groups along with individual divinities, and at least twenty of them in the 9th.[4] It is normal to find, next to the lists of names and positions of these other gods – beneath their representations – columns of offers prescribed for them too, along with the beneficent deeds that the dead would achieve. Once pacified, in fact, these deities could facilitate the free movement in the hereafter, providing nourishment and light in the darkness.[4]
The tomb (KV2) of Pharaoh Ramesses IV (c. 1155–1149 BC) in the Valley of the Kings, and the Book of the Dead, list the cavern deities hereafter selected by the British egyptologist George Hart:[2]
Cavern
Deities
Cavern
Deities
1
a) nine jackal-headed deities feeding on rotten flesh
In particular, the Egyptologist Richard H. Wilkinson thus grouped the deities and the supernatural creatures residing in the 10th cave, along with their beneficent deeds once the deceased successfully tamed them:[1]
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This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article September 2021 The Cavern deities of the underworld were ancient Egyptian minor deities charged with punishing the damned souls by beheading and devouring them 1 2 3 Jackal and lion headed guardian deities with swords from the Tomb of Sadosiris El Muzawaka Dakhla Oasis Contents 1 Description and partition 1 1 Deities of the first eleven caves Hart 1 2 Deities in the 10th cavern Wilkinson 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyDescription and partition EditFurther information Book of Caverns The Egyptians believed that in the underworld the Duat there were at least twelve caves and caverns inhabited by terrible deities and supernatural creatures that would feed on the souls of the wicked Several funerary papyri in addition to the wall decorations of some tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the southern hall of the Osireion at Abydos list these deities involved in the extermination usually by beheading of the enemies of the sun god Ra and of his daughter Maat goddess of truth and justice 1 In particular these creatures are systematically listed in the Spell of the Twelve Caves known from a papyrus Cairo 24742 4 dating back to the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep II c 1427 1401 BC of the 18th Dynasty 1 The first seven caverns contained groups of three mummiform and three anthropomorphic deities two male and one female in each triad From the 8th to the 20th cavern one would find divinities in variable numbers in the 8th for example there were seven groups along with individual divinities and at least twenty of them in the 9th 4 It is normal to find next to the lists of names and positions of these other gods beneath their representations columns of offers prescribed for them too along with the beneficent deeds that the dead would achieve Once pacified in fact these deities could facilitate the free movement in the hereafter providing nourishment and light in the darkness 4 Scenes of otherworldly punishment from a papyrus of Amduat 21st Dynasty Metropolitan Museum of Art New York City Deities of the first eleven caves Hart Edit The tomb KV2 of Pharaoh Ramesses IV c 1155 1149 BC in the Valley of the Kings and the Book of the Dead list the cavern deities hereafter selected by the British egyptologist George Hart 2 Cavern Deities Cavern Deities1 a nine jackal headed deities feeding on rotten flesh b snake deities guarding the Silent Region 7 2 a spitfire snake called Sesy b primeval catfish headed gods called Nariu 8 Those Who Raise Their Superiors To The Sky 3 a Nehebkau b nine catfish headed gods led by Osiris 9 Gods of the Primeval Abyss4 Great One Who Is On His Belly 10 Groaning goddesses with blood dripping axes5 a Nut b ithyphallic Osiris 11 Ammit6 Tatenen othersDeities in the 10th cavern Wilkinson Edit In particular the Egyptologist Richard H Wilkinson thus grouped the deities and the supernatural creatures residing in the 10th cave along with their beneficent deeds once the deceased successfully tamed them 1 Deities Beneficent deeds Deities Beneficent deeds Those Who Belong To The Sunshine Give the deceased light The Hidden Goddess Grants the soul be strong and the body be intact Those Who Take Hold Grant the deceased be acclaimed The Souls Of The Gods Who Became Members of Osiris Grant the deceased be in peace Nine Gods Who Guard Those In The Cavern Give the deceased the breath of life Those Who Worship Ra Grant the deceased not be rejected from any gate of the underworld Nine Gods Whose Arms Are Hidden Grant the deceased be worth and dignified Those Whose Faces Are Warlike Grant the deceased be cool in the hottest places of the netherworld Book of the Dead of Hori supernatural creatures guarding the netherworld Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland The deceased and the underworld monsters from a Book of the Dead N 3096 Louvre Paris Pharaoh Nectanebo I c 379 361 BC adoring underworld demons The Archaeological Civic Museum MCA of Bologna See also EditGate deities of the underworldReferences EditNotes Edit a b c d Wilkinson 2003 p 80 a b Hart 1986 pp 62 3 Minor Netherworld Deities of Ancient Egypt www touregypt net in Russian Retrieved 2018 04 21 a b c Hornung Erik 1999 The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife Cornell University Press ISBN 0801485150 Bibliography Edit Hart George A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses Routledge 1986 ISBN 0 415 05909 7 Wilkinson Richard H The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt Thames amp Hudson 2003 ISBN 0 500 05120 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cavern deities of the underworld amp oldid 1091105446, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
