Ḥeḥ (ḥḥ, also Huh, Hah, Hauh, Huah, and Hehu[citation needed]) was the personification of infinity or eternity in the Ogdoad in ancient Egyptian religion.[1] His name originally meant "flood", referring to the watery chaos that the Egyptians believed existed before the creation of the world.[2] The Egyptians envisioned this chaos as infinite, in contrast with the finite created world, so Heh personified this aspect of the primordial waters.[3] Heh's female counterpart was known as Hauhet, which is simply the feminine form of his name.[1]
Heh
An aspect of Heh, holding a pair of notched palm branches
Like the other concepts in the Ogdoad, his male form was often depicted as a frog, or a frog-headed human, and his female form as a snake or snake-headed human. The frog head symbolised fertility, creation, and regeneration, and was also possessed by the other Ogdoad males Kek, Amun, and Nun.[4] The other common representation depicts him crouching, holding a palm stem in each hand (or just one),[5] sometimes with a palm stem in his hair, as palm stems represented long life to the Egyptians, the years being represented by notches on it. Depictions of this form also had a shen ring at the base of each palm stem, which represented infinity. Depictions of Heh were also used in hieroglyphs to represent one million, which was essentially considered equivalent to infinity in Ancient Egyptian mathematics. Thus this deity is also known as the "god of millions of years".
The primary meaning of the Egyptian word ḥeḥ was "million" or "millions"; a personification of this concept, Ḥeḥ, was adopted as the Egyptian god of infinity. With his female counterpart Ḥauḥet (or Ḥeḥut), Ḥeḥ represented one of the four god-goddess pairs comprising the Ogdoad, a pantheon of eight primeval deities whose worship was centred at Hermopolis Magna. The mythology of the Ogdoad describes its eight members, Heh and Hauhet, Nu and Naunet, Amun and Amaunet, and Kuk and Kauket, coming together in the cataclysmic event that gives rise to the sun (and its deific personification, Atum).[6]
Forms and iconography
The god Ḥeḥ was usually depicted anthropomorphically, as in the hieroglyphic character, as a male figure with divine beard and lappet wig. Normally kneeling (one knee raised), sometimes in a basket—the sign for "all", the god typically holds in each hand a notched palm branch (palm rib). (These were employed in the temples for ceremonial time-keeping, which use explains the use of the palm branch as the hieroglyphic symbol for rnp.t, "year").[7] Occasionally, an additional palm branch is worn on the god's head.
In Ancient Egyptian Numerology, Gods such as Heh were used to represent numbers in a decimal point system. Particularly, the number 1,000,000 is depicted in the hieroglyph of Heh, who is in his normal seated position.[8]
Cult and worship
The personified, somewhat abstract god of eternity Ḥeḥ possessed no known cult centre or sanctuary; rather, his veneration revolved around symbolism and personal belief. The god's image and its iconographic elements reflected the wish for millions of years of life or rule; as such, the figure of Ḥeḥ finds frequent representation in amulets, prestige items and royal iconography from the late Old Kingdom period onwards. Heh became associated with the King and his quest for longevity. For instance, he appears on the tomb of King Tutankhamen, in two cartouches, where he is crowned with a winged scarab beetle, symbolizing existence and a sun disk. The placement of Heh in relation to King Tutankhamen's corpse means he will be granting him these "millions of years" into the afterlife.[9]
Gallery
Tutankhamun's alabaster lotus chalice, with Heh being depicted atop the handles
A pectoral belonging to princess Sithathoriunet, daughter of Senusret II, depicting Heh between two falcons and below Senusret II's cartouche
Barta, Winfried (1992). "Die Bedeutung der Personifikation Huh im Unterschied zu den Personifikationen Hah und Nun". Göttinger Miszellen (127): 7–12.
Seawright, Caroline (21 May 2002). "Heh and Hauhet, Deities of Infinity and Eternity".
References
^ abWilkinson, Richard H. (2003). The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. p. 109
^Allen, James P. Genesis in Egypt: The Philosophy of Ancient Egyptian Creation Accounts. Yale Egyptological Seminar, 1988
^Allen, James P. Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs. Cambridge University Press, 2000
^Rush, John (2007). The Twelve Gates: A Spiritual Passage Through the Egyptian Books of the Dead. Berkeley, CA: Frog. p. 281.
^Owusu, Heike (2008). Egyptian Symbols. New York, NY: Sterling. p. 73.
^Hart, George (1990). Egyptian Myths. London: British Museum Publications. p. 21.
^Remler, Pat (2010). Egyptian Mythology, A to Z. New York: Chelsea House.
^Imhausen, Annette (2016). Mathematics of Ancient Egypt. Princeton: Princeton University. p. 19.
^Remler, Pat (2010). Egyptian Mythology, A to Z. New York: Chelsea House.
January 28, 2023
Ḥeḥ, ḥḥ, also, hauh, huah, hehu, citation, needed, personification, infinity, eternity, ogdoad, ancient, egyptian, religion, name, originally, meant, flood, referring, watery, chaos, that, egyptians, believed, existed, before, creation, world, egyptians, envis. Ḥeḥ ḥḥ also Huh Hah Hauh Huah and Hehu citation needed was the personification of infinity or eternity in the Ogdoad in ancient Egyptian religion 1 His name originally meant flood referring to the watery chaos that the Egyptians believed existed before the creation of the world 2 The Egyptians envisioned this chaos as infinite in contrast with the finite created world so Heh personified this aspect of the primordial waters 3 Heh s female counterpart was known as Hauhet which is simply the feminine form of his name 1 HehAn aspect of Heh holding a pair of notched palm branchesName in hieroglyphsMajor cult centerHermopolis as a member of the Ogdoad Symbolpalm branchConsortHauhetLike the other concepts in the Ogdoad his male form was often depicted as a frog or a frog headed human and his female form as a snake or snake headed human The frog head symbolised fertility creation and regeneration and was also possessed by the other Ogdoad males Kek Amun and Nun 4 The other common representation depicts him crouching holding a palm stem in each hand or just one 5 sometimes with a palm stem in his hair as palm stems represented long life to the Egyptians the years being represented by notches on it Depictions of this form also had a shen ring at the base of each palm stem which represented infinity Depictions of Heh were also used in hieroglyphs to represent one million which was essentially considered equivalent to infinity in Ancient Egyptian mathematics Thus this deity is also known as the god of millions of years Contents 1 Origins and mythology 2 Forms and iconography 3 Cult and worship 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 Bibliography 7 ReferencesOrigins and mythology EditThe primary meaning of the Egyptian word ḥeḥ was million or millions a personification of this concept Ḥeḥ was adopted as the Egyptian god of infinity With his female counterpart Ḥauḥet or Ḥeḥut Ḥeḥ represented one of the four god goddess pairs comprising the Ogdoad a pantheon of eight primeval deities whose worship was centred at Hermopolis Magna The mythology of the Ogdoad describes its eight members Heh and Hauhet Nu and Naunet Amun and Amaunet and Kuk and Kauket coming together in the cataclysmic event that gives rise to the sun and its deific personification Atum 6 Forms and iconography EditThe god Ḥeḥ was usually depicted anthropomorphically as in the hieroglyphic character as a male figure with divine beard and lappet wig Normally kneeling one knee raised sometimes in a basket the sign for all the god typically holds in each hand a notched palm branch palm rib These were employed in the temples for ceremonial time keeping which use explains the use of the palm branch as the hieroglyphic symbol for rnp t year 7 Occasionally an additional palm branch is worn on the god s head In Ancient Egyptian Numerology Gods such as Heh were used to represent numbers in a decimal point system Particularly the number 1 000 000 is depicted in the hieroglyph of Heh who is in his normal seated position 8 Cult and worship EditThe personified somewhat abstract god of eternity Ḥeḥ possessed no known cult centre or sanctuary rather his veneration revolved around symbolism and personal belief The god s image and its iconographic elements reflected the wish for millions of years of life or rule as such the figure of Ḥeḥ finds frequent representation in amulets prestige items and royal iconography from the late Old Kingdom period onwards Heh became associated with the King and his quest for longevity For instance he appears on the tomb of King Tutankhamen in two cartouches where he is crowned with a winged scarab beetle symbolizing existence and a sun disk The placement of Heh in relation to King Tutankhamen s corpse means he will be granting him these millions of years into the afterlife 9 Gallery Edit Tutankhamun s alabaster lotus chalice with Heh being depicted atop the handles A pectoral belonging to princess Sithathoriunet daughter of Senusret II depicting Heh between two falcons and below Senusret II s cartouche A cedar chair found in the Tomb of Tutankhamun depicting Heh atop the hieroglyph for gold on the backrest A relief depicting Heh holding two palm ribs from the Temple of Ramesses II Abydos A scarab seal with the cartouche of Thutmose IV above the god Heh c 1397 1388 BCESee also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heh RenpetBibliography EditBarta Winfried 1992 Die Bedeutung der Personifikation Huh im Unterschied zu den Personifikationen Hah und Nun Gottinger Miszellen 127 7 12 Seawright Caroline 21 May 2002 Heh and Hauhet Deities of Infinity and Eternity References Edit a b Wilkinson Richard H 2003 The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt Thames amp Hudson p 109 Allen James P Genesis in Egypt The Philosophy of Ancient Egyptian Creation Accounts Yale Egyptological Seminar 1988 Allen James P Middle Egyptian An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs Cambridge University Press 2000 Rush John 2007 The Twelve Gates A Spiritual Passage Through the Egyptian Books of the Dead Berkeley CA Frog p 281 Owusu Heike 2008 Egyptian Symbols New York NY Sterling p 73 Hart George 1990 Egyptian Myths London British Museum Publications p 21 Remler Pat 2010 Egyptian Mythology A to Z New York Chelsea House Imhausen Annette 2016 Mathematics of Ancient Egypt Princeton Princeton University p 19 Remler Pat 2010 Egyptian Mythology A to Z New York Chelsea House Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Heh god amp oldid 1121477235, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
