DOI article:
Blackman, Aylward M.: Sacramental ideas and usages in ancient Egypt
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12742#0048
SACRAMENTAL IDEAS AND USAGES
IN ANCIENT EGYPT
(WITH 1 PLATE)
BY
AYLWARD M. BLÀGKMAN, D. LITT.
The first article of this séries, Lustrations and the Heliopolitan Sun-Cuit, was published
in the now discontinued Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archœology, vol. XL,
pp. 57-66, and 86-91. I must hère express m y sincère thanks to Monsieur Chassinat
for so kindly permitting me to continue the séries in the Recueil de travaux.
For the convenience of those of m y readers, to whom, owing to the war, the
publications in question may not bc easily accessible, I will préface this secoud
article with a summary of the first, combining therewith the conclusions of two
other closely connected articles which have recently appeared in the Journal of
Egyptian Archœology, vol. V, pp. 118-12/1, and 1/18-1 65.
SUMMARY OF ARTICLE I.
The Heliopolitan sun god Rëc-Atum was represented by his priests as reborn every
morning as the resuit of his undergoing lustration. The lustral washing was per-
formed by the sun-god himself, or lie was assisted thereat by one or two divinities,
namely the gocldess Kebhôwet, daughter of Anubis, or the two gods liorus and Thôth.
Thus, on account of his function of bath-attendant of the sun-god, a lustration-for-
mula at Philœ speaks of Thôth as « the Thôth of RëSW.
The daily service in the Heliopolitan sun-temple began at dawn. The high-priest
commenced the long séries of épisodes forming the daily temple liturgy by washing
or sprinkling the sun-god's cultus-image, thus imitating the regenerative lustration
which was supposed to be daily undergone by that god before he appeared above
the eastern horizon^.
The high-priest of the Heliopolitan sun-god in predynastic times was of course
(1) Proceedings oj the Society of Biblical Archœology, vol. XL, pp. 58 foll. ; Journal of Egyptian Archœology,
vol. V, p. 153 witli footnote 5. For Horus and Thôth in the capacity of the sun-god's toilet-attendanls, see
also Rilual for Amûn, X, 8 = Moret, Rituel du cidle divin journalier, p. 108.
(2) Journal of Egyptian Archœology, vol. V, pp. 153 foll., 162 foll.
IN ANCIENT EGYPT
(WITH 1 PLATE)
BY
AYLWARD M. BLÀGKMAN, D. LITT.
The first article of this séries, Lustrations and the Heliopolitan Sun-Cuit, was published
in the now discontinued Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archœology, vol. XL,
pp. 57-66, and 86-91. I must hère express m y sincère thanks to Monsieur Chassinat
for so kindly permitting me to continue the séries in the Recueil de travaux.
For the convenience of those of m y readers, to whom, owing to the war, the
publications in question may not bc easily accessible, I will préface this secoud
article with a summary of the first, combining therewith the conclusions of two
other closely connected articles which have recently appeared in the Journal of
Egyptian Archœology, vol. V, pp. 118-12/1, and 1/18-1 65.
SUMMARY OF ARTICLE I.
The Heliopolitan sun god Rëc-Atum was represented by his priests as reborn every
morning as the resuit of his undergoing lustration. The lustral washing was per-
formed by the sun-god himself, or lie was assisted thereat by one or two divinities,
namely the gocldess Kebhôwet, daughter of Anubis, or the two gods liorus and Thôth.
Thus, on account of his function of bath-attendant of the sun-god, a lustration-for-
mula at Philœ speaks of Thôth as « the Thôth of RëSW.
The daily service in the Heliopolitan sun-temple began at dawn. The high-priest
commenced the long séries of épisodes forming the daily temple liturgy by washing
or sprinkling the sun-god's cultus-image, thus imitating the regenerative lustration
which was supposed to be daily undergone by that god before he appeared above
the eastern horizon^.
The high-priest of the Heliopolitan sun-god in predynastic times was of course
(1) Proceedings oj the Society of Biblical Archœology, vol. XL, pp. 58 foll. ; Journal of Egyptian Archœology,
vol. V, p. 153 witli footnote 5. For Horus and Thôth in the capacity of the sun-god's toilet-attendanls, see
also Rilual for Amûn, X, 8 = Moret, Rituel du cidle divin journalier, p. 108.
(2) Journal of Egyptian Archœology, vol. V, pp. 153 foll., 162 foll.