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Northern Saqqara VIII: Other Animal Galleries
Associated to Place: AncientWorlds > Egypt > Lower: White Wall > Mennefer > Saqqara > articles -- by * Mirjam Nebet (118 Articles), General Article


Throughout the whole of Egyptian history, there had been animal cults, but in the Late and Greco-Roman periods this reached its peak. The burials of the Apis bull at Saqqara had gone on for quite some time, but there were also other bull cults: the Mnevis bull in Heliopolis and the Buchis bull in Armant. These were all from an early time and most likely associated with the sun cult. However, there were not only bulls buried at Saqqara.


Animal Galleries & Temple of Osiris/Apis & Isis


Djehuty (Gr: Thoth). There was also amulets and statues in the form of an ibis as further tokens for Djehuty. Perhaps, through the association between Djehuty and Imhotep, the architect of Djoser, (who became deified some two thousand years after his death. He was considered a deity of writing and of medicine), that offerings were made also to him, as a prayer for good health.

The Ibis galleries
were found and excavated by Emery in 1964. His men happened to break into the galleries, which were full of ibises, interred in pottery jars. Many small artifacts were also found, like amulets and statues formed as ibises, probably brought there by pilgrins and worshippers, who sought to appeal to Djehuty or to Imhotep. In subsequent years, Emery also found galleries for mummified falcons and baboons and the "Mother of Apis" galleries, with mummified cows. The falcons were, like the ibises, mummified and placed in pottery jars, while the baboons were mummified and place in wooden boxes. Though their number was high, sadly only one of them has survived intact.

In the tomb of Hor from Sebennytos at Saqqara were found 65 texts written on ostraca. These are called the "Dream Ostraca" and give insight in how the animal cult was handled during the time of Ptolemy VI. Also the dreams of Hor were inscribed and recorded on these ostraca.

These galleries are unfortunately not open for visitors.

Temples and Shrines
were erected to take care of the cults. An area where priests lived, but also stonecutters, craftsmen of varios kinds, and people who housed the pilgrims, developed close by. Among these were a temple to Osiris/Apis (later merged with Serapis) and Isis. This temple had two pylons and a temple house. It was all built of brick. Between the two pylons was a kiosk where the columns were of palm type. It was later destroyed. There were also cult chapels for the baboons and other animals.


Sources:
The Complete Pyramids - Mark Lehner
The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt - Aidan Dodson
Chronicles of the Pharaohs - Peter A. Clayton
Who´s Who in Ancient Egypt - Michael Rice
Three very good links:
Saqqara Online
Egyptsites
Touregypt

Palace of the Empress of the Known Universe
~ Table of Contents ~
Early Claim
Thessalonike The Tragic Queen
Icelandic History
The Althingi
Byzantium before Constantine: The Greco-Roman City, 658 BCE - 330 CE
Odin's lament
A FATEFUL CHARIOT RACE: The STORY of PELOPS and OENOMAUS
The Thanatos from Ephesus
The Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara
The Unas Pyramid and Surroundings.
Mastabas in the Vicinity of Unas Pyramid
Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep - Royal Manicurists and Prophets of Re.
Horemheb and His Contemporaries
Pepi I and His Consorts
Pepi II - an Unusually Long Reign
The Last Royal Tombs of the Old Kingdom
Northern Saqqara - The Pyramids of Teti and Queens
Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Mereruka, His Wife & Son
Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Kagemni
Benu of Iunu - The Prototype Phoenix
The Ennead of Iunu I: Where Gods Were Born
The Ennead of Iunu II: The Foundation for Religious Life
History of Devon
Northern Saqqara III: The Tomb of Ankhmahor
Northern Saqqara IV: The Tomb of Akhethotep & Ptahotep
Northern Saqqara V: The Mastaba of Ti
Northern Saqqara VI: Early Dynastic & 3rd Dynastic Tombs
Northern Saqqara VII: The Serapeum
Northern Saqqara VII: Other Animal Burials
Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt I
Lady of Philae, Lady of Abaton
Styles of House in Ancient Egypt II
Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt III
Aset in Festival
Calendar of Festivals of Aset
Posted Sep 9, 2006 - 11:45 , Last Edited: Sep 9, 2006 - 11:53











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