Sacred Ankh Temple Lesson 9b Egyptian symbols

Transcription

1 1 Kemetic Spirituality Lesson 9 b Lesson theme: Basic Ancient Egyptian Symbology Introduction: Em hotep - Greetings in peace (hotep) I am going to break this lesson in two parts as there are a few things I would like to give you, but can t do it in one lesson. Lesson 9 (a) will be about basic overview on some of the amulets and symbols used in the Ancient worlds Lesson 9 (b) will be about a few specific symbols like the Ankh, Eye of Horus and the Lotus flower. Advance course: In our advance course we will look at the symbols and meanings of the Lapis Lazuli, scorpion and a few others I am going to add to this lesson two extract of writings regarding the Ankh from different authors and a third one which I wrote, all totally different views. Why do I do this? I believe that no matter how educated you are, no one person of our modern day age knows what happened in the ancient worlds. Yes we can look at their pictures and study their works, but we will never truly know what they were thinking or what they used their symbols for we can only give our own views on what we think it was used for. Basic Egyptian Symbols Ankh symbol of life The Ankh was, for the ancient Egyptians, the symbol (the actual Hieroglyphic sign) of life but it is an enduring icon that remains with us even today as a Christian cross. It is one of the most potent symbols represented in Egyptian art, often forming a part of decorative motifs. The ankh seems at least to be an evolved form of, or associated with the Egyptian glyph for magical protection, Sa. However, what the sign itself represents is often disputed. For example, Sir Alan Gardiner thought that it showed a sandal strap with the loop at the top forming the strap, but if so, the symbolism is obscure and so his theory has found little real favor early on. However, this interpretation seems to have received some acceptance among modern writers. It would seem that the ancient Egyptians called that part of the sandal 'nkh (exact pronunciation unknown). Because this word was composed of the same consonants as the word "life", the sign to represent that particular part of the sandal, was also used to write the word "life". Another theory holds that the ankh was symbolic of the sunrise, with the loop representing the Sun rising above the horizon, which is represented by the crossbar. The vertical section below the crossbar would then be the path of the sun

2 2 Wolfhart Westendorf felt it was associated with the tyet emblem, or the "knot of Isis". He thought both were ties for ceremonial girdles. Winfried Barta connected the ankh with the royal cartouche in which the king's name was written, while others have even identified it as a penis sheath. The presence of a design resembling a pubic triangle on one ankh of the New kingdom seems to allow for the idea that the sign may be a specifically sexual symbol. In fact, guides in Egypt today like to tell tourists that the circle at the top represents the female sexual organ, while the stump at the bottom the male organ and the crossed line, the children of the union. However, while this interpretation may have a long tradition, there is no scholarly research that would suggest such an exact meaning. The ankh, on some temple walls in Upper Egypt, could also symbolize water in rituals of purification. Here, the king would stand between two gods, one of whom was usually Thoth, as they poured over him a stream of libations represented by ankhs. The ancient gods of Egypt are often depicted as carrying ankh signs. We find Anqet, Ptah, Satet, Sobek, Tefnut, Osiris, Ra, Isis, Hathor, Anibus and many other gods often holding the ankh sign, along with a scepter, and in various tomb and temple reliefs, placing it in front of the king's face to symbolize the breath of eternal life. During the Amarna period, the ankh sign was depicted being offered to Akhenaten and Nefertiti by the hands at the end of the rays descending from the sun disk, Aten. Therefore, the ankh sign is not only a symbol of worldly life, but of life in the netherworld. Therefore, we also find the dead being referred to as ankhu, and a term for a sarcophagus was neb-ankh, meaning possessor of life. It is at least interesting that the ankh word was used for mirrors from at least the Middle Kingdom onward, and that indeed, many mirrors were shaped in the form of an ankh sign. Life and death mirror each other, and in any number of ancient religions, mirrors were used for purposes of divination. In fact, the ankh sign in ancient Egypt seems to have transcended illiteracy, being comprehensible to even those who could not read. Hence, we even find it as a craftsman's mark on pottery vessels. As the Christian era eclipsed Egypt's pharaonic pagan religion, the sign was adapted by the Coptic Church as their unique form of a cross, known as the crux ansata. ============================================================================== Egyptian Ankh Article Source: The Egyptian ankh is a familiar symbol seen as ankh charms, on decorative items, on T shirts and many other places in the modern world. It is similar in appearance to the Christian cross with a loop above the bar. It's origins are still a mystery but it's meaning is clear. It is the Egyptian hieroglyph for 'eternal life' and is seen in decorative work in tombs and on household objects left in the tombs, which were either shaped in the form of an ankh or decorated with this symbol. The Origins of the Ankh There are many theories about its origins ranging from a knot used on ceremonial or religious garments, a stylized sandal strap or as a sexual symbol. The most popular theory is that it represents an elaborate bow with the lower section often being comprised of two parts which make up the tails of the bow. The ankh is carried in depictions of Egyptian gods and clearly symbolizes life in these images. It is often seen being offered to a king as a symbolic 'breath of life' and ankhs were often symbolized as flowing in chains from water vessels symbolizing its life giving properties. Vessels used for water containers in religious ceremonies were often made in the shape of an ankh. A Symbol of Life

3 3 As a symbol of life it was also seen as a symbol of fertility, life in the generations to come. Another name for the ankh is the Key of the Nile and as such represents the union of Osiris and Isis which was thought to begin the annual Nile flooding, so important to the Ancient Egyptians. Many Egyptian gods were shown carrying an ankh, often in both hands crossed over the chest as seen in a statue of Osiris or an ankh in one hand and a scepter in the other as Hathor, Isis, Anibus, Sobek, Tefnut and many more are shown. The symbol also represents life in the netherworld and the dead may be referred to as ankhu and a sarcophagus as a neb-ankh. Mirrors and many other household objects were made in the shape of an ankh and it was also the word for mirror. A gilded mirror case was found in the tomb of Tutankhamen and sistrums (a type of musical instrument) and spoons were also made in this shape. ============================================================================== THE ANKH Book:Sacred Scarabs Author: Detraco Regula The ankh is the foremost Egyptian symbol of life and spiritual power. Egyptian gods and goddesses carry ankhs as evidence of their power to transmit and create life. Temple gate keys were sometimes made in the shape of ankhs. Deities and pharaohs are depicted being purified under a stream of ankhs flowing out of sacred vessels. Various explanations of the ankh's form have been presented, varying from its likeness to a sandal strap (and therefore symbolic of the motion of life) to the outline of the female genitals, or the union of the male and female organs. One of the more logical explanations is that it derived from a stylized African fetish-doll called aku, which was carried to promote fertility. These round-headed dolls with short arms and straight sticks for bodies strongly resemble the ankh form, though no one knows which came first. However, the origin of the ankh symbol was probably different from any of these and may remain unknown. In addition to being a symbol of life, the ankh is also a transmitter of force and spiritual energy, which is life in another form. Its presence in a reading is positive in virtually all circumstances. While the ankh is a very popular modern symbol of ancient Egypt, it was not a mass-produced amulet. Compared to scarabs or other symbols, relatively few ankhs were made as amulets. Its primary use was in hieroglyphic inscriptions and occasionally as a decorative element. ================================================================================ Ankh: Egyptian Symbol of Life Author: Stacey The Ankh has long been associated with the Egyptians who presumably created it. Although it s true origins are debated amongst many archeologists and egyptologists. One thing is for sure, the Egyptians revered the Ankh as a spiritual symbol. Considered to be the symbol of life, immortality and the universe, the Ankh is both a symbol of the Goddess and God heads. The tau, or loop at the top has also been associated as a symbol of spiritual reflection. This could be a result of it s use by Tutankhamen who often used a large hand held Ankh with a mirror positioned in the loop.

4 4 The loop has a couple of common meanings. It represents the three upper chakras, also known as the spiritual chakras, which are associated with the divine. It represents the Godhead (not just the masculine, but God as an all encompassing divine being). It also represents the female principles or the Goddess, within nature and the divine universe. The staff has a few meanings as well. It is a representation of the masculine God and male principles. The vertical line is a symbol of the lower four chakras also known as the physical chakras. The cross bar represents the division of the male and female aspectss of life, and the balance of polarity between the two. An Ankh was made of many different materials, from wood and precious stones, to metals of gold and silver. Many Egyptians and early pagans placed precious stones within the loop of the Ankh to magnify the spiritual properties of the stone. An Ankh with an amethyst in the center for instance, was through to be a powerful tool for enhancing divination. As an amulet, the Ankh is worn for both good luck or fortune and to protect against bad luck or energies. It is seen in Egyptian art as a scepter in the right hand of deities, and as a tool used upon the nostrils of the dead to bring them back to life. The Ankh has long been associated with the Egyptians as a symbol of regeneration. But it also has deep roots as a symbol of magik. In ancient Egypt, the House of Life, symbolized by the Ankh over the door and throughout the interior, was a building, or group of buildings that housed the temple library. These libraries were filled with magical lore, accessible by magicians, priests and laymen alike. One of the largest of these libraries can be found at Karnak along the Nile River. As a magikal tool, the Ankh can be used for healing and to promote psychic communication with the divine. Some Egyptian art depict a priest or priestess placing an Ankh in the middle of their forehead (over the third eye) as a means to connect to the divine God/Goddess for communication. Healers often placed the Ankh over wounds or areas that required attention, to promote regeneration and divine healing. ============================ ========================================== ============ What does the Ankh mean to me It is the most sacred symbol in all of the Ancient worlds, and one of the most powerful ones to. It is a sun symbol of life, opportunity, growth and fertility. It is a symbol of healing and prosperity and abundance of life and if you look at the Neter (God) Ra you will see he has one in his hands, yes so does most of the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses). As I embarked on my Kemetic path I accepted the Ankh as my symbol and also took devotion to it as daughter of the Ankh (Sat Ankhu) which means that I will uphold all of life as it is sacred and blessed and a symbol of unity to all the corners of life seen in the loop tied together in the knot which forms the arms of the Ankh. This is a symbol which is used as an instrument to create life, from which the waters of the life flows and it thus symbolizes the fertility which the Nile brought to the land. The symbol also speak of the fertility of life, the loop of birth to death and beyond to eternity. The loop also is a doorway into the aspects of Divinity and communication with the Divine. It is a sacred symbol of the Gods, especially that of the God Ra as he is seen as the Creator who rose from the waters of Chaos and called life from himself into existence. In this light the Ankh is also seen as the male and female organs coming together and forming a birthing channel through which all life are brought into existence. As I have said beforee that it is also a symbol of eternity and because of this most Vampire clans have the ankh as their a emblem

5 5 For more readings on the Ankh and other Egyptian symbols: ============================================================================= Regarding Symbols of the Ancient Egyptian religion: THE LOTUS Book:Sacred Scarabs Author: Detraco Regula In cultures worldwide, the lovely lotus is a symbol of enlightenment and joyful understanding, representing spiritual unfolding, rebirth, love, beauty, and the peaceful resolution of difficulties. The lotus has its roots in mud, stretches up through murky, stagnant water, and then bursts into glorious bloom in the sunshine or, in some varieties of water lily, by night and moonlight. The fragrance is mildly intoxicating, believed to be an aphrodisiac. The sacred pools that accompanied virtually all of the larger temples in Egypt contained lotuses and water lilies, and were used by the priestesses and priests for purification. Blue lotuses were worn by the Egyptians as headdresses and carried for their scent. Nefertum, son of Ptah and Sekhmet, was the Egyptian god of perfumes and was said to have been born in a lotus blossom. Like Khepera, Nefertum could represent the emergence of the sun in the morning sky. After death, Egyptians hoped to be able to take on the form of the lotus, and the eighty-first chapter of the Book of Coming Forth by Day was devoted to the spell that could transform the deceased into the flower. "I am the pure lotus which springs up from the divine splendor that belongs to the nostrils of Ra:' one version states. Another praises the flower itself: "Hail, Lotus!... I am he who knows you, and I know your names among the gods, the lords of the Duat, and I am one of you." ==================================================== Egyptian Lotus Flower Symbolism Author unknown According to ancient Egyptian mythology the lotus flower was taken as a symbolic representation of the sun. It was also associated with rebirth and creation. This was primarily because of the physical behavior of the flower as it closes during the night time and descends back into the pond or swampy water and rises up once again at dawn. According to ancient Egyptian mythology the first rose to ascend out of the watery chaos was a giant lotus. This took place at the beginning of creation according to the legend. Following this the sun rose out of the giant rose from the first day.

6 6 The Egyptian Lotus is taken as a symbol of Upper Egypt. The creation story originates from Heliopolis. According to the legend everything was an infinite ocean prior to the creation of the universe. The ocean was composed of inert water which was also the basic constitution for Nun, the primeval being. It is from Nun that the lotus flower emerged along with a mound of dry land. The blossoming of the lotus flower released the self created solar deity known as Atun in his youth. On the petals of the lotus flower formed another god known as Ra. According to the legend Ra would return to the lotus flower each day and would be enfolded in the petals as it descended into the swampy waters each night. For the Egyptians the Lotus flower carried a total of 4000 years of embodied spiritual enlightenment. This is why it was commonly believed that the lotus flower had the potential to accelerate the development of spirituality in an individual. It was also believed to have healing properties. Archeologists have been able to unearth lotus flowers as they were used by the Egyptians in the days gone by. The discovery of King Tut s tomb in 1922 revealed that his body was scattered with blue lotus upon burial. This gave historians the suggestion that the lotus was a symbolic flower. However the Egyptians also made use of the lotus for intoxication purposes using which they would get into an ecstatic state and experience hallucinations. The lotus flower was also commonly used for medicinal purposes amongst the ancient Egyptians. It formed the central ingredient in many herbal remedies. The use of the lotus flower as a powerful tonic with the potential to boost good overall health is present even today. ============================================================================ The Sacred Eye of Heru The Eye The Wadjet (or Ujat, meaning "Whole One") is a powerful symbol of protection in ancient Egypt also known as the "Eye of Horus" and the "all seeing eye". The symbol was frequently used in jewellery made of gold, silver, lapis, wood, porcelain, and carnelian, to ensure the safety and health of the bearer and provide wisdom and prosperity. However, it was also known as the "Eye of Ra", a powerful destructive force linked with the fierce heat of the sun which was described as the "Daughter of Ra". The "eye" was personified as the goddess Wadjet and associated with a number of other gods and goddesses (notably Hathor, Bast, Sekhmet, Tefnut, Nekhbet and Mut). Eye of Horus Horus was an ancient a sky god whose eyes were said to be the sun and the moon. However, he soon became strongly associated with the sun (and the sun god Ra as Ra-Horakhty ("Ra, who is Horus of the two horizons") while

7 7 Thoth was associated with the moon. An ancient myth describes a battle between Horus and Set in which Horus right eye was torn out and Set lost his testicles! Thoth magically restored Horus eye, at which point it was given the name "Wadjet" ("whole" or "healthy"). In this myth it is specifically stated that it is Horus left eye which has been torn out, so the myth relates to the waxing and waning of the moon during which the moon appears to have been torn out of the sky before being restored once every lunar month. There are a number of depictions of the restoration of the eye in Greco-Roman temples. Thoth is assisted by fourteen gods including the gods of the Ennead of Hermopolis or thirty male deities (in Ismant el-kharab, the Dakhla Oasis). Each god represented one of the fifteen days leading up to the full moon, and to the waning moon. The restored eye became emblematic of the re-establishment of order from chaos, thus closely associating it with the idea of Ma at. In one myth Horus made a gift of the eye to Osiris to help him rule the netherworld. Osiris ate the eye and was restored to life. As a result, it became a symbol of life and resurrection. Offerings are sometimes called "the Eye of Horus" because it was thought that the goods offered became divine when presented to a god. The Eye of Horus was believed to have healing and protective power, and it was used as a protective amulet. It was also used as a notation of measurement, particularly for measuring the ingredients in medicines and pigments. The symbol was divided into six parts, representing the shattering of Horus eye into six pieces. Each piece was associated with one of the six senses and a specific fraction. More complex fractions were created by adding the symbols together. It is interesting to note that if the pieces are added together the total is 63/64 not 1. Some suggest that the remaining 1/64 represents the magic used by Thoth to restore the eye, while others consider that the missing piece represented the fact that perfection was not possible. However, it is equally likely that they appreciated the simplicity of the system which allowed them to deal with common fractions quickly, after all they already had a symbol for the number "1" and they had other numerical notations available when they needed to use smaller fractions. According to later traditions, the right eye represented the sun and so is called the "Eye of Ra" while the left represented the moon and was known as the "eye of Horus" (although it was also associated with Thoth). However, in many cases it is not clear whether it is the left or right eye which is referred to. Others myths suggest that it is Horus' right eye which was torn out and that the myth refers to a solar eclipse in which the sun is momentarily blotted from the sky. The Eye of Ra According to one myth, Ra (who was at that point the actual Pharaoh of Egypt) was becoming old and weak and the people no longer respected him or his rule. They broke the laws and made jokes at his expense. He did not react well to this and decided to punish mankind by sending an aspect of his daughter, the Eye of Ra. He plucked her from the Ureas (royal serpent) on his brow, and sent her to earth in the form of a lion. She waged war on humanity slaughtering thousands until the fields were awash with human blood. When Ra saw the extent of the devestation he relented and called his daughter back to his side, fearing that she would kill everyone. However, she was in a blood lust and ignored his pleas. So he arranged for 7,000 jugs of beer and pomegranate juice (which stained the beer blood red) to be poured all over the fields around her. She gorged on the "blood" and became so drunk that she slept for three days and awoke with a terrible hangover. Thus mankind was saved from her terrible vengeance. There are a number of different versions of the myth, and a number of goddesses are given the title "Eye of Ra", in particular Hathor, Sekhmet, Tefnut, Bast, Mut, Nekhbet and Wadjet. The "Daughter of Ra" was sometimes

8 8 symbolised as a Cat who protected Ra from the serpent Apep (linking it with the leonine aspects of Hathor, Bast, Sekhmet, Tefnut, Mut, Nekhbet and Wadjet amongst others). The Cat was also thought to be able to cure and scorpion or snake bite and was associated with the goddesses Isis (although she is only linked to the symbol in its protective function). ================================================================================ Eye of Horus/Eye of Ra (Udjat, Wedjat) Designed to resemble the eye of a falcon, this symbol is called the Eye of Ra or Eye of Horus represents the right eye of the Egyptian Falcon God Horus. As the udjat (or utchat), it represented the sun, and was associated with the Sun God Ra (Re). The mirror image, or left eye, represented the moon, and the God Tehuti (Thoth). (A very similar concept of the sun and moon as eyes appears in many religious traditions, such as the Celtic tale of the hand of Nuada.) According to legend, the left eye was torn from Horus by his murderous brother Seth, and magically restored by Thoth, the God of magick. After the restoration, some stories state, Horus made a gift of the eye to Osiris, which allowed this solar deity to rule the underworld. The story of this injury is probably an allusion to the phases of the moon as the eye which is torn out every month. Together, the eyes represent the whole of the universe, a concept similar to that of the Taoist Yin-yang symbol. Spiritually, the right eye reflects solar, masculine energy, as well as reason and mathematics. The left eye reflects fluid, feminine, lunar energy, and rules intuition and magick. Together, they represent the combined, transcendent power of Horus. The Eye of Horus was believed to have healing and protective power, and it was used as a protective amulet, and as a medical measuring device, using the mathematical proportions of the eye to determine the proportions of ingredients in medical preparations) to prepare medications. ================================================================================ Worksheet This is a double worksheet again with a Part A and a Part B section. You can either do Part A or Part B or if you choose then you can do both parts. Part A 1. Why was the Eye of Heru so important to the Egyptian spirituality? 2. When we speak of the Eye of Ra, we call it the 3. Why was the Lotus flower so important to the Ancient Egyptians? 4. Study the Ankh picture, and describe all the symbols you can see on it. Also state to whom these symbols belong to. 5. Research:

9 9 Do some research on the symbols, why they are used in this way and the meaning of it separate and together and sum up your writings in not more than two paragraphs. Part B: Which Neteru's eyes were the Sun and the Moon? 2. Who stole one of the eyes of Heru and why? 3. Who restored that eye? 4. The restored Eye of Horus is also known as the eye. 5. Describe how one can differentiate between the Eye of Ra and the Eye of Horus 6. Explain the following extract: "In fact, the ankh sign in ancient Egypt seems to have transcended illiteracy, being comprehensible to even those who could not read" What does this say about the value of symbols and its meaning? 7. Activity: Using the following attached sketch and complete the following questions: a) All the letters on the alphabet is symbols relating to an aspect in the spiritual life of ancient Egyptian worship. You do not need to redraw the symbols, but just write down who or what they represent. Do it from block A to Z b) Write the following sentence in hieroglyphics. You move in Ma at, you live in Ma at. She fills your body, she rests in your head, she makes her seat upon your brow; the breath of your body is of Ma at, your heart does live in Ma at. (Note: certain words do have their own hieroglyphics like the term Ma at, head and heart.tip look through hieroglyphic sites) 8. Research work: Do research on the feather of Ma at and is symbolism in the ancient and modern societies, its significance in the daily lives of the average citizen, what it meant to them, how it related to judgment.