DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4222#0060
50
ROYAL TOMBS OF THE 1st DYNASTY.
found again B. T., L, PI. xxxii. 39, apparently
in connection with hunting, and by uniting
fig. 10 on the present plate1 with fig. 4 of
B. T., i., PI. vii., we obtain a figure of the
animal apparently holding j and with the name
written ^ ~. The spelling Mafdet in the
Pyramid Texts shows that <=^ is here to have
its full word-sign value ' ^. The form of the
name M'-f d% with the masculine suffix /,
suggests that the divinity is male; but the
composition of the name is not certain, and the
animal resembles a lioness, and could hardly be
a leopard, as there is no indication of spots.
Probably, therefore, Mafdet is a goddess. In
the Book of the Dead (see Hieroglyphs, p. 62,
where references are given), in texts of the
New Kingdom, the name is determined by a
cat. In the Pyramid Texts it is followed by
\ ; in fig. 7, etc., as on the Palermo stone, the
lioness is figured as if it were walking up
the sign [. The latter (see Hieroglyphs and
Btahhetep, I.) is difficult to explain, but in the
present instance we have a very fine example.
From this we see that it consists of a taper-
ing: rod or stick, curved over into a rather
broad hook at the top, and a handled knife-
blade, which is strongly lashed to the rod
beneath the hook, and points outwards and
slightly upwards on the same side. It scarcely
seems to be an instrument for use, but rather
a ceremonial combination of the instruments
for catching (hooked stick), for binding (thongs
or cords), and for killing (knife), whether in
regard to malefactors or to animals. It would
thus be very appropriate as a symbol of
" attendants" armed to follow their lord in
the execution of justice, in war, or in the
chase; and of the feline goddess of hunting
and of vengeance: compare the fasces of
the lictors. M. Capart has quoted some of
the highly symbolic representations in the
1 Mr. Petrie informs me that the provenance of this
fragment is not certain. The other fragment was ap-
parently from the tomb of Semer-khet (\J).
tombs of the kings, in which a human head is
depicted dangling from the hooked staff of n .
This points to the same interpretation. Further
we may note that in B. 7'., i., PI. xxxii. 39, the
feline symbol of Mafdet and the jackal symbol
of Anubis or of Upuat (Ophois) are seen
associated. I think that it may be affirmed
that the jackal was the servant messenger and
attendant of the gods ; and probably Mafdet
likewise accompanied them as the fierce hunter
and executioner in their employ.
8. Note that the shrine surmounted by a
bucranium, as here shown, forms the hiero-
glyphic name of Crocodilopolis, the capital of
the Faiyum, and is read c*==^^, Shedet.
10. See note on 7.
11. Compare the closely similar fragment
R. T., i., PI. xi. 4 = xv. 18. It shows that the
explanation suggested for that (ib. p. 41) is
impossible, the groups not forming a continuous
sentence, but giving short phrases which can be
arranged in a very variable order. An examina-
tion of the original may help to fix the reading.
12. See Mr. Petrie's ingenious explanation of
the signs on p. 25.
13. The inscription is 0 r^^n ^ ("northern
corn" ?) followed by a peculiar sign. Mr.
Petrie supposes it to be the " measuring cord "
6 of the king, from the form of the staff on
which it is engraved.
PI. vii.a. 1. From a hunting; scene. The
jackal standard appears thus also in B. T., i.,
PI. xxxii. fig. 39.
2. Note v\ i] , J q, etc., as onB. T.,i., xv.
16 (see p. 41), xvii. 28.
3. Cf. B. T., i., xi. 5 = xiv. 12.
4. Cf. B. T., i., xi. 14 = xv. 16 left.
5. Cf. R. T., i., xi. 6.
13. Note the emblems u passed through •¥-,
much as in Hieralwnpolis, PL ii.
PL viii. 2. Note the name of the king written
I (, with the* det. of the nose, as a variant of
A?)
in B. T.
i., xn.
ROYAL TOMBS OF THE 1st DYNASTY.
found again B. T., L, PI. xxxii. 39, apparently
in connection with hunting, and by uniting
fig. 10 on the present plate1 with fig. 4 of
B. T., i., PI. vii., we obtain a figure of the
animal apparently holding j and with the name
written ^ ~. The spelling Mafdet in the
Pyramid Texts shows that <=^ is here to have
its full word-sign value ' ^. The form of the
name M'-f d% with the masculine suffix /,
suggests that the divinity is male; but the
composition of the name is not certain, and the
animal resembles a lioness, and could hardly be
a leopard, as there is no indication of spots.
Probably, therefore, Mafdet is a goddess. In
the Book of the Dead (see Hieroglyphs, p. 62,
where references are given), in texts of the
New Kingdom, the name is determined by a
cat. In the Pyramid Texts it is followed by
\ ; in fig. 7, etc., as on the Palermo stone, the
lioness is figured as if it were walking up
the sign [. The latter (see Hieroglyphs and
Btahhetep, I.) is difficult to explain, but in the
present instance we have a very fine example.
From this we see that it consists of a taper-
ing: rod or stick, curved over into a rather
broad hook at the top, and a handled knife-
blade, which is strongly lashed to the rod
beneath the hook, and points outwards and
slightly upwards on the same side. It scarcely
seems to be an instrument for use, but rather
a ceremonial combination of the instruments
for catching (hooked stick), for binding (thongs
or cords), and for killing (knife), whether in
regard to malefactors or to animals. It would
thus be very appropriate as a symbol of
" attendants" armed to follow their lord in
the execution of justice, in war, or in the
chase; and of the feline goddess of hunting
and of vengeance: compare the fasces of
the lictors. M. Capart has quoted some of
the highly symbolic representations in the
1 Mr. Petrie informs me that the provenance of this
fragment is not certain. The other fragment was ap-
parently from the tomb of Semer-khet (\J).
tombs of the kings, in which a human head is
depicted dangling from the hooked staff of n .
This points to the same interpretation. Further
we may note that in B. 7'., i., PI. xxxii. 39, the
feline symbol of Mafdet and the jackal symbol
of Anubis or of Upuat (Ophois) are seen
associated. I think that it may be affirmed
that the jackal was the servant messenger and
attendant of the gods ; and probably Mafdet
likewise accompanied them as the fierce hunter
and executioner in their employ.
8. Note that the shrine surmounted by a
bucranium, as here shown, forms the hiero-
glyphic name of Crocodilopolis, the capital of
the Faiyum, and is read c*==^^, Shedet.
10. See note on 7.
11. Compare the closely similar fragment
R. T., i., PI. xi. 4 = xv. 18. It shows that the
explanation suggested for that (ib. p. 41) is
impossible, the groups not forming a continuous
sentence, but giving short phrases which can be
arranged in a very variable order. An examina-
tion of the original may help to fix the reading.
12. See Mr. Petrie's ingenious explanation of
the signs on p. 25.
13. The inscription is 0 r^^n ^ ("northern
corn" ?) followed by a peculiar sign. Mr.
Petrie supposes it to be the " measuring cord "
6 of the king, from the form of the staff on
which it is engraved.
PI. vii.a. 1. From a hunting; scene. The
jackal standard appears thus also in B. T., i.,
PI. xxxii. fig. 39.
2. Note v\ i] , J q, etc., as onB. T.,i., xv.
16 (see p. 41), xvii. 28.
3. Cf. B. T., i., xi. 5 = xiv. 12.
4. Cf. B. T., i., xi. 14 = xv. 16 left.
5. Cf. R. T., i., xi. 6.
13. Note the emblems u passed through •¥-,
much as in Hieralwnpolis, PL ii.
PL viii. 2. Note the name of the king written
I (, with the* det. of the nose, as a variant of
A?)
in B. T.
i., xn.