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An Aretalogy of Aset
Associated to Place: AncientWorlds > Egypt > Upper: Ta Khentit > Philae > The Island of Philae > articles -- by * Mirjam Nebet (118 Articles), General Article

An aretalogy is a kind of list, stating a deity´s virtues. There are several of these, both for Aset and for other deities. An early form of aretalogy were probably short statements made by the deities, which are found as early as the Coffin Texts.

 

Image courtesy of J. Whitfield
Relief at Abydos.




In the Coffin Texts, Spell 148, Aset says about herself:

I am Aset, one more spiritlike
and august than the gods.


Whether the Aretalogy given below is Egyptian or Greek in origin is not totally clear. In the text are evidences for both. This one is older than the hymns on Philae temple walls, but it dates from the Ptolemeian period and is one of the few which has come down to us in complete form:

 
I am Isis, ruler of every land
I was taught by Hermes (Thoth) and with Hermes devised
letters, both hieroglyphic and demotic, that all might not
be written with the same.
I gave laws to mankind and ordained
what no one can change
I am the eldest daughter of Kronos
I am the wife and sister of King Osiris
I am the one who discovered wheat for mankind
I am the mother of King Horus
I am the one who rises in the Dog-star
I am the one called Goddess by women
For me was built the city of Bubastis
I separated the earth from the Heaven
I showed the paths of the stars
I regulated the course of the sun and the moon
I devised the activities of seamanship
I made what is right strong
I brought together woman and man
I assigned to women to bring into
light of day their infants
in the tenth month
I ordained that parents should be loved by children
I imposed punishment upon those unkindly disposed
towards their parents
I with my brother Osiris put an end to cannibalism
I taught men the initiation into mysteries
I instructed them to revere images of the gods
I established the sacred cult places of the gods
I abolished the rules of the tyrants
I put an end to murders
I compelled women to be loved by men
I made the right stronger than gold and silver
I ordained that the true should be considered good
I devised marriage contracts
I assigned to Greeks and barbarians their languages
I made the good and the bad to be distinguished by nature
I made that nothing should be more fearful than an oath
I have delivered him who unjustly plots against others into
the hands of the one against whom he plotted
I impose retribution upon those who do injustice
I decreed that mercy be shown to suppliants
O honor those who justly defend themselves
With me the right has power
I am the mistress of rivers and winds and sea
No one is honored without my consent
I am the Mistress of War
I am the Mistress of the thunderbolt
I calm the sea and make it surge
I am in the rays of the sun
I attend the sun in its journey
What I decree, that is also accomplished
All yield to me
I set free those who are in bonds
I am the Mistress of seamanship
I make the navigable un-navigable, whenever I so decide
I founded enclosure walls of the cities
I am called the Lawgiver
I brought up islands out of the depths into the light
I am the Mistress of rain
I conquer Destiny
Destiny obeys me
Hail, O Egypt, that nourished me!


Palace of the Empress of the Known Universe
~ Table of Contents ~
Early Claim
Thessalonike The Tragic Queen
Icelandic History
The Althingi
Odin's lament
A FATEFUL CHARIOT RACE: The STORY of PELOPS and OENOMAUS
Mastabas in the Vicinity of Unas Pyramid
Horemheb and His Contemporaries
Pepi I and His Consorts
Pepi II - an Unusually Long Reign
The Unas Pyramid and Surroundings.
The Last Royal Tombs of the Old Kingdom
The Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara
Northern Saqqara - The Pyramids of Teti and Queens
Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep - Royal Manicurists and Prophets of Re.
Benu of Iunu - The Prototype Phoenix
Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Mereruka, His Wife & Son
Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Kagemni
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
History of Devon
Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt I
Styles of House in Ancient Egypt II
Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt III
Northern Saqqara VII: Other Animal Burials
Calendar of Festivals of Aset
Aset Through History
Places of Worship
Aset in the Ancient Texts
Lady of Philae, Lady of Abaton
Aset in Festival
Posted Nov 30, 2006 - 20:33 , Last Edited: Nov 30, 2006 - 20:37











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