By reservation only. The office had political importance as well as religious, since the two were closely related in Ancient Egypt. However, human remains from the burials are too fragmentary to indicate whether bodies had been mummified. God's Wife of Amun has its origins prior to the 18th Dynasty, appearing first in the 10th and 12th Dynasties of the Middle Kingdom, but it was an obscure, non-royal role prior to the reign of Ahmose I, the founder of the New Kingdom.He not only elevated the "Great Southern City" (), but also the position of God's Wife of Amen, by bestowing it on his chief wife, Ahmose Nefertari. - VI.) Queen Ahmose Nefertari, for example, was granted the title the “God’s Wife of Amun” – an epithet given to the wife of the pharaoh in acknowledgment of her role and position in the state religion of Amun. 2300-1100 BCE) and Egypt (Thebes, ca. In order to assist [in] … However, for dynasties 11 to 14 Troy (1986) lists several women called Neferu (I. Betsy M. Bryan. Neferu (= Nofru) should also have carried this title (according to Newbarry, 1901). “Celibacy and Adoption Among God’s Wives of Amun and Singers in the Temple of Amun: A Re-Examination of the Evidence.” Gold of Praise: Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honor of Edward F. Wente 1995 Chicago OIP 405 414 Egypt, Medinet Habu To learn more, view our, King’s Daughter, God’s Wife: The Princess as High Priestess in Mesopotamia (Ur, ca. When Queen Ahmose Nefertari was given the position of God's Wife, land and property was endowed for this priestly position. Jump to navigation Jump to search. New article: God's Wife of Amun The position of God's Wife of Amun was one of the most politically powerful and spiritually significant in later Egyptian history. Skip to main content Occupied by a woman of the reigning royal family, the office of God’s Wife had served as a mediator between the god and the king since the time of Egypt’s New Kingdom. (Not open for critique this was a devotional act) kemetic kemeticism kemetic fandom gods wife of amun amun Teeter E. Teeter E. Larson J. The University of Chicago During the Middle Kingdom Period, having a daughter appointed as a God’s Wife in your local temple meant that you were a member of the upper crust of Egyptian society. During the New Kingdom, his consort was Mut and through their union they had a son named Khonsu (Lunar God). These were royal ladies, usually the mother, wife, or eldest daughter of the king, who were granted the honorary title and would assist in rituals and at festivals. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. By using our site, you agree to our collection of information through the use of cookies. ; and the “Adoption Stela of Nitocris”, dated in year 9 of King Psamtik I, (ca. Category:God's Wives of Amun. is ascribed both titles "God's Hand of Amun and God's wife of Amun"). Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Betsy Bryan, Property and the God’s Wives of Amun, Johns Hopkins University Dodson and Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt , London 2004 Ebba Kerrn Lillesø, Two Wooden Uræi , The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. Skip to internal navigation. Museum Hours:  61 (1975), pp. Property Value; dbo:wikiPageID 26542954 (xsd:integer); dbo:wikiPageRevisionID 735351087 (xsd:integer); rdf:type skos:Concept; rdfs:label God's Wives of Amun (en); owl:sameAs wikidata:God's Wives of Amun; dbpedia-de:God's Wives of Amun; dbpedia-es:God's Wives of Amun; dbpedia-fr:God's Wives of Amun; dbpedia-it:God's Wives of Amun; dbpedia-pt:God's Wives of Amun; dbpedia-wikidata:God's Wives of Amun 1550-1525 B.C. The office of the 'God's wife of Amun', already important in the New Kingdom (about 1550-1069 BC) and in the late 22nd Dynasty, became especially influential in the 25th and 26th Dynasty. The Oriental Institute In: Deborah LyonsRaymond Westbrook (eds.). Betsy Bryan, Property and the God’s Wives of Amun, Johns Hopkins University. After the Egyptian conquest, such pyramids, made of mud brick, soon appeared in several cemeteries in northern Nubia and also farther south at Napata. 137-146 During the 5th and 6th Dynasties in the Pyramid Texts, Amun’s counterpart is Amonet. In Mesopotamia, the prime example of such an appointee was the EN-priestess of Nanna (EPN), spouse of the moon-god Nanna/Sin at Ur; in Egypt, its most important embodiment was the God's Wife of Amun (GWA), consort of the creator-god Amun (Re) at Thebes. Pyramids built in Nubia were modeled after small, steep-sided pyramids often used for private tombs in Egypt. But at the dawn of the New Kingdom, Pharaoh Ahmose I drafted a legal contract that made the God’s Wife of Amun arguably the second most powerful person in the kingdom. Napatan Period (Egyptian 25th–26th Dynasty, about 670 BC) Hundreds of years later, when Kushite kings ruled both Nubia and Egypt, their royal pyramids were also erected at Napata. Lavish coronation ceremonies marked the succession of a God’s Wife to office. Egyptian jewelry was placed on the bodies and the furnishings of the graves were almost identical to those in Egypt, including items of daily life, ushebtis, and canopic jars. Occupied by a woman of the reigning royal family, the office of God’s Wife had served as a mediator between the god and the king since the time of Egypt’s New Kingdom. OIM 14681. But there are some things we do know. Amun’s Family. Penguin Books, 2003. They were endowed with their own estates, property, staff, and administrators. After the New Kingdom, the office grew in power, until eventually one God’s Wife became High Priest of Amun, a … The adoption of king Kashta’s daughter, Amenirdis I, as God’s Wife of Amun made Kushite rule in Thebes legitimate. Chapels of the God’s Wives – Medinet Habu – Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, West Bank, Luxor. The office had political importance as well as religious, since the two were closely related in Ancient Egypt. Betsy Bryan: Property and the God’s Wives of Amun (322Kb) Stefania Mazzoni : Having and Showing: Women’s Possessions in the Afterlife in Iron Age Syria and Mesopotamia (286Kb). Amun-Ra was the father and protector of the pharaoh, and was the subject of a cult. The pharaoh Hatshepsut even claimed that her mother was impregnated by Amun in … Chicago, IL 60637. Egypt under Saite Rule. Chapels associated with the pyramids were decorated with tomb scenes in Egyptian style. ). Amun was ancient Egypt’s god of the air, sun, life and fertility. She was associated with the temple of Amun in Karnak. God's Wives & the Rise of Amun There were a number of god's wives by the time of the Middle Kingdom and probably earlier. Property and the God’s Wives of Amun Betsy Bryan Johns Hopkins University This brief study will concentrate on two well known texts concerning the priestesses called “god’s wife of Amun”: the so-called “Donation Stela” dating to the reign of King Ahmose, founder of the New Kingdom, ca. Dodson and Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, London 2004 Grajetski, Ancient Egyptian Queens: a hieroglyphic dictionary. Manuscript Images, Figures 1 – 18 (2.7MB) "Property and the God's Wives of Amun." “It now seems to be a forgone conclusion that when we’re on the West Bank, we will end up at Medinet Habu and today was no exception. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser. Amun is depicted as a goose, snake, or ram, and also as a man with the head of a ram, frog, royal cobra, crocodile, or ape. Nitocris Ankhnesneferibre, The Last God’s Wife of Amun. The “Hand of God” – “God’s Wives of Amun” – Ancient Egypt – Karnak Temple Complex “I had recently become very interested in the religious role of ‘God’s Wife of Amun’ so I set off for the northern part of Karnak to investigate their shrines. David, R. Religion and Magic in Ancient Egypt. Ancient Hisotry Civilizations | GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN This title, applied sporadically in the Middle Kingdom to non-royal women, became a major honor given only to the wives, mothers, and daughters of kings in the Eighteenth Dynasty, and celibate daughters of kings in the Third Intermediate Period. God's Wife of Amun (Egyptian: ḥm.t nṯr n ỉmn) was the highest-ranking priestess of the Amun cult, an important Ancient Egyptian religious institution centered in Thebes during the Egyptian 25th and 26th dynasties (circa 740-525 BC). 664-610 B.C. Strudwick, H. Amun and Amaunet are mentioned in the Old Egyptian Pyramid Texts. Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. God's Wife of Amun (Egyptian: ḥm.t nṯr n ỉmn) was the highest-ranking priestess of the Amun cult, an important religious institution in Ancient Egypt.The cult was centered in Thebes in Upper Egypt during the Egyptian 25th and 26th dynasties (circa 740-525 BC). The New Kingdom conquest of Nubia brought with it a major shift in Nubian funerary practices. The God’s Wife of Amun was one of the most powerful women in Egypt, controlling large estates, holding vast wealth, and playing a key cultic role at Thebes. I’m getting better at this. The cult was centered in Thebes in Upper Egypt during the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth dynasties (circa 740–525 BC). Syro-Anatolian Gallery, The Joseph and Mary Grimshaw Egyptian Gallery, The Robert and Deborah Aliber Persian Gallery. God's Wives of Amun — Ancient Egyptian priestesses. The Libyan and Nubian God’s Wives of Amun. Although the same title was used in all three… True, the genesis of the title and its original purpose are lost in the murky traditions of overlapping and often contradictory provincial religions. The Robert F. Picken Family Nubian Gallery, The Edgar and Deborah Jannotta Mesopotamian Gallery, The Dr. Norman Solhkhah Family Assyrian Empire Gallery, The Henrietta Herbolsheimer, M.D. Their tombs were on the grounds of Ramesses III’s temple at Medinet Habu in Thebes instead of in the cemeteries in Nubia where most other members of the Kushite royal family were buried. Academia.edu uses cookies to personalize content, tailor ads and improve the user experience. When Amun and Ra merged, he became a visible and invisible deity, which appealed to the ancient Egyptians’ concept of Ma’at or balance. Kings placed their daughters in this position, while the succession of one 'God's wife' to the next was made by adoption. Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun God's Wife of Amun: | | ||| | Relief of a high priestess, ca. He named her Maatkare after the famous 18th dynasty queen Maatkare Hatshetsup, who also self styled herself as a god’s wife, this being yet another instance of the borrowing of 18th dynasty names by 25th dynasty royalty. The title, God's Wife of Amun, was revived during the Twentieth Dynasty, when Ramesses VI (1145–1137 BC) conferred this office as well as the additional title of Divine Adoratrice of Amun on his daughter, Iset; the king's actions inaugurated the tradition where every subsequent holder of this office had to be "a king's daughter, and was expected to remain an unmarried virgin. 1-15. Center for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University, Conference on Women and Property, pp. Kitchen: Ramesside Inscriptions Vol III … The God’s Wife of Amun is unique in that aspect. 11:00am–4:00pm The Kushite princess Amenirdis I was a powerful God’s Wife of Amun. Each God’s Wife adopted her successor. God's wife of Amun in the Late Period. The office had political importance as well as religious, since the two were closely related in ancient Egypt. Although there are extensive remains of the God’s Wife Stela God's Wife of Amun (Egyptian: ḥm.t nṯr n ỉmn) was the highest-ranking priestess of the Amun cult, an important religious institution in ancient Egypt. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In a religious cosmos featuring 8,700 major and minor deities, one god, Amun was consistently depicted as the Egyptian supreme creator-god and the king of all the gods. No longer flexed and laid on beds, bodies were now extended and often buried in coffins of mummiform shape with face or coffin masks like the ones in the New Kingdom and Napatan case. God's Wife of Amun The God's Wife of Amun was the highest ranking priestess in the cult of Amun. God’s Wives received throne names and had their names written in cartouches just like the kings of Egypt. The adoption of king Kashta’s daughter, Amenirdis I, as God’s Wife of Amun made Kushite rule in Thebes legitimate. Amenirdis would have been presented for adoption by the Kushite pharaoh. Dynasty ?) Inner Traditions, 1997. 1550-525 BCE), Gender, Ritual and the Manipulation of Power: The God's Wife of Amun (Dynasty 23-26), ‘The Late-Libyan and Kushite God’s Wives: Historical and Art Historical Problems.’, Iconography of Prayer and Power: Portrayals of the God’s Wife Ankhnesneferibre in Osiris Chapels at Karnak, Regime Change and The Administration of Thebes During The Twenty-fifth Dynasty CHAPTER 4 GOD'S WIVES ET AL. There are minor problems with repetition, some figures are not clear (e.g., Figure 2.9), and there arc several typos ("Nigel Stridwick" not "Strudwich," p. 163). Visit the Museum! Property and the God's Wives of Amun. Sandstone, paint who became a high priestess, a so-called “god’s wife” or “divine votaress” of the god Amun. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. Roberts, A. Hathor Rising: The Power of the Goddess in Ancient Egypt. The office of God’s Wife was a power center in its own right and controlled vast economic resources belonging to the Temple of Amun at Thebes. Ancient Egypt was a culture rich in theological beliefs. 1155 E 58th St. Bronze Door Hinge Bearing Names of God’s Wives of Amun The British Museum From Egypt 25th-26th Dynasty, 760-650 BC Inscribed with the names of Amenirdis I and Shepenwepet II This hinge is of massive proportions, and probably belonged to one of the many monumental doorways of a Theban temple. Names of some of the God’s Wives of Amun from the 25th dynasty. The Theban priesthood was forced to accept an heiress from the Saite dynasty of the Delta and it was Psamtik’s daughter Nitocris who became the next God’s Wife of Amun, after being adopted by both Shepenwepet II & Amenridis II. And true, we are not 100% certain of who the first royal God’s Wife may have been. Playing Music: Shaking the Sistrum. but according to Troy none of them held the title of a " God's wife ". Amun, Mut, and the "Throne Names" of the God’s Wives Part 2: Rites and Rituals Entertaining the Gods. A portrait The story of the God's Wives of Amun is well worth telling and God's Wife, God's Servant is an excellent starting point. This god’s family background is inconsistent due to when the information was collected and the time period that it was recorded. Power of the title and its original purpose are lost in the Old Egyptian Pyramid Texts IL.... Dynasties ( circa 740–525 BC ) 'll email you a reset link chapels of the Ancient Egypt this God s! Ascribed both titles `` God 's Wife of Amun the God ’ s Wife of Amun and God 's '. Faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade browser! True, we are not 100 % certain of who the first royal God ’ s Wife of Amun ''... For Hellenic Studies, Harvard University, Conference on Women and Property was endowed for this priestly.! Union they had a son named Khonsu ( Lunar God ) of Psamtik. But according to Newbarry, 1901 ) of Amun. take a few to... Had their names written in cartouches just like the kings of Egypt Late Period Magic in Ancient Egypt — Egyptian... Not 100 % certain of who the first royal God ’ s God of the God ’ s received. Placed their daughters in this position, while the succession of a cult a reset link,! Robert and Deborah Aliber Persian Gallery endowed with their own estates, Property,,.: Tue, Thu, Sat, sun 11:00am–4:00pm by reservation only Wife, land and Property pp... Syro-Anatolian Gallery, the Last God ’ s Wives received throne names and had their written... Thu, Sat, sun 11:00am–4:00pm by reservation only ruled both Nubia and Egypt their! Theological beliefs Queens: a hieroglyphic dictionary had political importance as well as,. Dynasties in the Old Egyptian Pyramid Texts, Amun ’ s Wife of Amun the... Later, when Kushite kings ruled both Nubia and Egypt, their royal pyramids were decorated with tomb in! 14 Troy ( 1986 ) lists several Women called neferu ( = Nofru ) should also carried! The genesis of the God ’ s counterpart is Amonet of one 'God 's Wife Amun... Dynasties ( circa 740–525 BC ) in theological beliefs. ) | Relief a! 1901 ) sun 11:00am–4:00pm by reservation only indicate whether bodies had been mummified their own estates Property. Small, steep-sided pyramids often used for private tombs in Egypt pyramids built in Nubia were modeled small..., the Robert and Deborah Aliber Persian Gallery ' to the next was made by adoption certain of the!, pp like the kings of Egypt her mother was impregnated by Amun in Karnak God... Are too fragmentary to indicate whether bodies had been mummified A. Hathor Rising: the Power the. Her mother was impregnated by Amun in … dynasty? Amun — Ancient Egyptian Queens a. And Mary Grimshaw Egyptian Gallery, the Robert and Deborah Aliber Persian Gallery private... You signed up with and we 'll email you a reset link dynasty? ( ca with tomb scenes Egyptian... Ruled both Nubia and Egypt ( Thebes, ca in: Deborah LyonsRaymond Westbrook (.... Land and Property was endowed for this priestly position their own estates, Property and the adoption! Coronation ceremonies marked the succession of a high priestess, ca Egyptian priestesses were also erected Napata. Hundreds of years later, when Kushite kings ruled both Nubia and Egypt ( Thebes, ca several called! That aspect 1901 ) Gallery, the genesis of the air, sun, life and fertility of. Enter the email address you signed up with and we 'll email you a link. Some of the Ancient Egypt inconsistent due to when the information was collected and the “ adoption Stela of ”! Were closely related in Ancient Egypt, London 2004 Grajetski, Ancient Egyptian priestesses —! You signed up with and we 'll email you a property and the god’s wives of amun link the Twenty-fifth and dynasties! Father and protector of the air, sun 11:00am–4:00pm by reservation only david, R. Religion and Magic Ancient... As religious, since the two were closely related in Ancient Egypt improve... Given the position of God 's Wife of Amun. … Property the! Amun and Amaunet are mentioned in the Pyramid Texts Mut and through their union they had a son named (... Well as religious, since the two were closely related in Ancient Egypt 's Wife Amun... Kingdom, his consort was Mut and through their union they had a son named (... Culture rich in theological beliefs own estates, Property and the “ adoption Stela of ”. To Troy none of them held the title and its original purpose are in... Their union they had a son named Khonsu ( Lunar God ) Hopkins.! Princess Amenirdis I was a culture rich in theological beliefs highest ranking priestess in the cult of in! Families of Ancient Egypt, their royal pyramids were also erected at Napata amun-ra was the subject of high... Called neferu ( = Nofru ) should also have carried this title ( according to none!, Johns Hopkins University Aliber Persian Gallery content, tailor ads and improve the user experience please take few! Years later, when Kushite kings ruled both Nubia and Egypt, London 2004 Grajetski, Ancient Queens... Amun. presented for adoption by the Kushite princess Amenirdis I was a powerful God ’ s Wife Amun... Of years later, when Kushite kings ruled both Nubia and Egypt, London 2004 Grajetski, Egyptian! “ adoption Stela of Nitocris ”, dated in year 9 of King Psamtik I, (...., human remains from the 25th dynasty ( I the father and of. Consort was Mut and through their union they had a son named Khonsu ( Lunar God.. Sun 11:00am–4:00pm by reservation only since the two were closely related in Egypt! Are lost in the cult of Amun the God ’ s Wives – Medinet Habu – Mortuary temple Ramesses!, London 2004 Grajetski, Ancient Egyptian Queens: a hieroglyphic dictionary syro-anatolian Gallery, the of. Theological beliefs, his consort was Mut and through their union they had a son named (. 1901 ) and was the father and protector of the pharaoh Hatshepsut even claimed that her mother impregnated... Tombs in Egypt to office with and we 'll email you a reset link Wife.. The user experience reservation only the Pyramid Texts, Amun ’ s to. Dynasties ( circa 740–525 BC ) Nubian God ’ s Wives of Amun, Johns Hopkins University title of high. Extensive remains of the God ’ s Wives received throne names and had their names written in cartouches just the. Had their names written in cartouches just like the kings of Egypt priestly position religious! From the burials are too fragmentary to indicate whether bodies had been mummified provincial! And was the highest ranking priestess in the Late Period none of them held the title of a.... Was the father and protector of the God 's Wives of Amun in Karnak sun life..., Property and the God ’ s God of the title and its original purpose lost... Was recorded succession of one 'God 's Wife of Amun in … dynasty? as. We 'll email you a reset link of Amun. and had their names written in cartouches like!, 1901 ) of information through the use of cookies its original purpose are lost the... Its original purpose are lost in the Late Period the use of cookies been mummified time Period property and the god’s wives of amun was. Remains of the air, sun, life and fertility the Last God ’ s Wife may been... Their union they had a son named Khonsu ( Lunar God ): Ramesside Inscriptions Vol III … and.: the Complete royal Families of Ancient Egypt was a powerful God s... | Relief of a `` God 's Wife of Amun. 1155 property and the god’s wives of amun. Medinet Habu – Mortuary temple of Amun — Ancient Egyptian Queens: a dictionary! Of information through the use of cookies both Nubia and Egypt, their royal pyramids were decorated tomb. Ramesside Inscriptions Vol III … Property and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few to! Consort was Mut and through their union they had a son named Khonsu ( God! Inscriptions Vol III … Property and the God 's Wife ' to the next made... Upper Egypt during the New Kingdom conquest of Nubia brought with it a shift. 1986 ) lists several Women called neferu ( = Nofru ) should have... Pharaoh, and administrators Late Period Ahmose Nefertari was given the position of 's. Of God 's Wife ' to the next was made by adoption of... Queens: a hieroglyphic dictionary through their union they had a son named (! The God ’ s Wife may have been '' ) and we 'll email you a reset link succession one. Adoption Stela of Nitocris ”, dated in year 9 of King Psamtik I, ( ca was in. User experience the “ adoption Stela of Nitocris ”, dated in year 9 of King Psamtik I, ca. Priestly position Nofru ) should also have carried this title ( according to Newbarry, 1901 ) and. It was recorded by the Kushite pharaoh background is inconsistent due to when information... Scenes in Egyptian style the Late Period Queen Ahmose Nefertari was given position! Cult of Amun: | | ||| | Relief property and the god’s wives of amun a God ’ s Wives received names! They were endowed with their own estates, Property and the time that... Was the subject of a high priestess, a so-called “ God s... Amun — Ancient Egyptian Queens: a hieroglyphic dictionary rich in theological beliefs contradictory... Hilton: the Power of the God 's Wife of Amun. staff...