Benson, Margaret; Gourlay, Janet: The temple of Mut in Asher: an account of the excavation of the temple and of the religious representations and objects found therein, as illustrating the history of Egypt and the main religious ideas of the Egyptians (London, 1899)

264

THE TEMPLE OF MUT.

[PART IV.

Sheshanq, and of Manli-me-anhi of Thebes. The
identification of this satrap of Upper Egypt with
Mentu-em-hat, prince and governor of the Thebaid,
admits of no doubt, and the likelihood of the
appointment is obvious. Although he had helped
Taharqa to defend Thebes, his position was con-
firmed by the new authority, and the withdrawal
of the Assyrians left him free for the work on which
he was set. Mentu-em-hat was as devoted a servant
of the gods of Thebes as Piankhy himself. The
inscriptions he has left at Medinet Habu and at
the temple of Mut, dated in the reign of Taharqa,
set forth in minute detail his pious labour in the
restoration of the ruined temples and plundered
desecrated shrines.

The inscription * on the walls of that small
chamber in the temple of Mut generally called the
" Taharqa Chamber" (plan, a) is the record by Men-
tu-em-hat of this work of purification and restoration.
" I have purified the temples of all the gods in the
nomes of the whole of Upper Egypt as they ought
to be purified after [profanation]." f The inscrip-
tion is much broken, but enouQ-h is left to show
that Mentu-em-hat cleansed the temples of many
gods, repaired their breaches, replaced the sacred
vessels and treasure which had been stolen, and
restored the rites of the eods and the "festivals of

* Translated by M. de Rouge. ' Melanges d'Arche'ologie,' tome
ier, 1" fascicule.

\ From M. de Rouge's translation.