The lotus flower was a popular symbol of rebirth and resurrection in ancient Egypt. The lotus is an aquatic plant, and its flower closes and sinks underwater at night. In the morning, it re-emerges above the surface and opens again. Consequently, the lotus symbol became richly associated with the sun, resurrection, and birth themes. In later Egyptian mythology, the lotus became associated with Osiris, and the four sons of Horus are frequently depicted standing on a lotus in front of Osiris.
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Bes was a protective deity without temples and formal centers of worship, but the archaeological record indicates that he was extremely popular in the later Dynastic Period. Amulets of Bes were worn in life, especially by women and children, and he was thought to play an important role in protecting mother and child during birth. Imagery of Bes is unusual for Egyptian art because he is almost invariably portrayed head-on, facing the viewer rather than in profile. This rendering emphasizes his fe ...click for details
In later Egyptian mythology, the jackal-headed deity Anubis was identified as the god of embalming, the process of preparing a body for mummification. Ancient Egyptians believed that preserving the body was critical to ensuring an afterlife for the deceased; Anubis was responsible for protecting the body and ensuring that the mummification process preserved it so that the spirit would have a functional body to use in the afterlife. According to later legend, Anubis was the son of Osiris and Neph ...click for details
Beginning in the Middle Kingdom, the ancient Egyptians were buried with small human statues called shabtis. These figures were to serve as servants in the afterlife, performing any work necessary so that the deceased could enjoy eternity in peace. This was accomplished by inscribing Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead on the shabti, which reads: "O shabti, if the deceased is called upon to do any of the work required there in the necropolis at any time...you shall say, 'Here I am, I will ...click for details
Beginning in the Middle Kingdom, the ancient Egyptians were buried with small human statues called shabtis. These figures were to serve as servants in the afterlife, performing any work necessary so that the deceased could enjoy eternity in peace. This was accomplished by inscribing Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead on the shabti, which reads: "O shabti, if the deceased is called upon to do any of the work required there in the necropolis at any time...you shall say, 'Here I am, I will ...click for details
Beginning in the Middle Kingdom, the ancient Egyptians were buried with small human statues called shabtis. These figures were to serve as servants in the afterlife, performing any work necessary so that the deceased could enjoy eternity in peace. This was accomplished by inscribing Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead on the shabti, which reads: "O shabti, if the deceased is called upon to do any of the work required there in the necropolis at any time...you shall say, 'Here I am, I will ...click for details
Beginning in the Middle Kingdom, the ancient Egyptians were buried with small human statues called shabtis. These figures were to serve as servants in the afterlife, performing any work necessary so that the deceased could enjoy eternity in peace. This was accomplished by inscribing Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead on the shabti, which reads: "O shabti, if the deceased is called upon to do any of the work required there in the necropolis at any time...you shall say, 'Here I am, I will ...click for details
Nut was the early Egyptian sky goddess whose arched body formed the vault of the heavens. She gave birth to the sun each morning and swallowed him at dusk, and in turn gave birth to the stars in the evening and consumed them at dawn. This belief in a constant cycle of birth and consumption led Nut to be associated with the sow (a female pig) due to many sows' habit of voracious feeding that sometimes includes eating their own piglets.
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Ptaichos (or "Pataikos") was an addition to the Egyptian pantheon who was derived from the Greek historian Herodotus's description of a Phoenician dwarf god. He was associated with both Ptah of Memphis and the protector god Bes, with whom he shares many attributes. Thought of as more of a friendly spirit than a true deity, Ptaichos was the protector of women, children, and the household.
Although he was originally considered the guardian deity of Egyptian royalty in the Old Kingdom, Bes evolved into the patron deity of the common household during the New Kingdom. Bes was believed to scare off evil spirits and bad luck with a single look because he was typically rendered face-forward to present his fearsome, ugly appearance. In this capacity he is oftentimes shown carrying swords, knives, or musical instruments used to create loud noises to help frighten away spirits. Despite thi ...click for details
