8. GODS, KINGS, TEMPLES, PRIESTS

Gods interacting

Gods in environment

Humans on earth after gods' retirement

KING as intermediary with gods, also god himself

King

"King of Upper & Lower Egypt"

"his majesty"

"Pharaoh"
(per-aa: "Great House")

King maintains order (ma'at)

King || Horus

Status of king with other gods

"Divine Birth" stories

Divinity
Legitimization

Names and titles of king:
Titulary

Cartouche

Visual signals of king's divinity

Crowns
Emblems: uraeus (cobra), vulture
Scepters
Clothing: special kilt, "tail"

Paradigm: king succeeded by eldest son

Royal women: "queens" (defined as king's wife, mom, sister, daughter, etc.)

Divinity of royal women

Brother-sister marriage

Kings and succession
Ideal: Osiris --> Horus
king --> eldest son

"Eldest son" as title

Other alternatives:
younger sons
trusted officials
royal women

Coronation

Renewal of power: heb-sed/ "sed festival"

King maintains order (ma'at)

Rituals

Temple: home of a particular god

Focus of "official" religion

Maintenance of order, specific god

Temple: recapitulates cosmology

Primeval mound

Inner sanctuary

Courts, pylons, chapels, storage, functional, etc.

Lake, obelisks, enclosure wall, causeway

Images everywhere

Access restricted

Cult image: home of god

"Opening of the mouth"

Daily ritual

Processional bark/boat

Animal cults

Specific
Apis bull of Memphis

Animal cults: general
Horus Falcon of Edfu

Official temple-based religion

KING

Hierarchies

Workers

Scribes

PRIESTS

Ranks

High Priest

"Musicians" (sing and play sistrum)

PRIESTS

Duties:

Rituals/ceremonies
Maintaining cult
Representing king
Specialized duties (books, oracles, animal cults)
Administration

Priest statue in Kelsey Museum

Karanis: South Temple

Pnepheros and Petesuchos: Crocodile gods (local forms of main crocodile god Sobek)

Animal cults: crocodile mummies

Sanctuary as focus of daily cult ritual

Priest with censer: offerings

Priest as magicial

Priests for divine oracles

Oracle questions

Voice oracles

"Speaking" statues

Institutions within the temple:
-House of Gold (Cult images)
-House of Books (library)
-House of Life (rituals)

Priests as further intermediaries between people and gods

GODS
KING
Priests
People

Priests: day-to-day, local
King: national, builds temples