Akhet Hieroglyph: The hieroglyph sign akhet is composed of the Sun disk and the hieroglyph for mountain (Source: Maria C. Betro, Hieroglyphics the Writings of Ancient Egypt, p. 161, Abbeville Press Publishers, 1996.).Topic has been moved to new Set In Stone website: http://setinstone.ning.com
2 comments:
"Egyptian Horizon (part 17)"
Interesting idea, but I'm not sure I buy the conclusions/suggestions. I think it more likely that this is an image of the sun rising and that the land underneath refers to the primordial mound that the Egyptians thought all life came from. The sun rising is one of the many references to rebirth and is also related to the god Ra (and the deified Pharaoh) traveling through the sky. Ra was thought to have traveled in a sunboat during the night and he would emerge from his trip in the morning as the rising sun.
To me it is more likely that the akhet represents this moment of rebirth in the morning.
This would also explain why the mortuary temples had names referencing akhet. In the temple the rebirth of the deified king was celebrated and to link this rebirth to the akhet then makes sense.
To refer to the great pyramid as Akhet Khufu would then refer to the rebirth of Khufu. The pyramid may just be a representation of the primordial mound and hence again refer to the rebirth.
The original step pyramid may just be the first logical step in representing such a mound. I do believe there are other "proto-pyramids" that show that Imhotep may not have been the original inventor. There is some evidence that the royal tombs in Abydos from dynasty I and II may have had mound like superstructures. I can't do the ideas justice in one or two sentences. I think you would find the folowing report fascinating: http://130.91.80.97:591/PDFs/33-3/Boat.pdf
Djoser however did move it to the first real stage of a true pyramid.
I think the great pyramid may just be a further more stylized phase of the primordial mound.
It's not unlike the stylized depictions of conical loaves of bread as triangles.
agree with the Sun rising as a sign of rebirth and it setting as a sign of 'death'. I also agree that this symbol shows the primordial mound/ground. I know very little about this hieroglyph and will be very interested to understand it in it's correct context, that is, is it facing east and represents only one moment in time (sunrise) or does it represent the valley and land of Egypt. For now I have an open mind and am only interested in discovering the truth, if that's possible. Some of these 'interpretations' might have to show multiple viewpoints, some fitting my overall hypothesis and some not. I supposed it is very tricky indeed.
When you say " ...the Egyptians thought all life came through the primordial mound" (and there are two of 'mounds' represented in the ahket), it makes me wonder if they're referring to where the floods come from (between these mounds from the South), that this is part of what brings life to the Egyptian valley... just a thought. The fact that there are two 'mounds' I don't think is a mistake. They certainly could of represented the rising sun in the east differently if that was their only intent, but I do need to learn much more before I'm able to draw any conclusions.
I understand these mortuary temples did face east and I've heard that the Sun's rays could (sometimes?) penetrate into these temples. That would be a strong argument if true that the akhet represents the sunrise.
I also agree that the rising Sun represents rebirth and the setting sun death and in combination represents the cycle of life. From the Egyptians point of view, nature must of seemed like a grand machine, especially in combination with the inundation every summer, and the fact that the deserts (total lifelessness) must of seemed overbearing on their land. I think death created a strong fear in the Egyptians, even for the daily cycle of the setting sun, it seems they almost feared that i wouldn't return, or, they knew it would return but just celebrated as an association to rebirth of the day and life.
BTW, I only discovered the akhet yesterday, which gives you an idea of my total lack of knowledge, hence my need for others to get involved. On the other hand, I think you can also see how fast I'm able to absorb information. It is one of my strengths as an architect, formulating design solutions on massive projects within a day or so.
I'm not sure pyramids are primordial mounds. In fact I think that after they were built, it would be an obvious thing to associate them with mounds/mountains, etc. After all they are large mountain like objects. As you read on you'll understand where I'm coming from, not to say they can't also be primordial mounds in some way, for instance, it might be that it is a primordial mound 'hidden' in the core (representing the earthly aspect to the design) that is supporting the function of the pyramid, and that the cladding and final detailing is the thing that ultimately 'hides' the mound, but serves a different function, but I think the pyramids purpose is more specialized than just a earthly mound. If it was just a mound, then why are pyramids pointed? These mounds always seem to be represented as rounded.
I think fundamentally all mounds, pyramids and other temples shaped like this are acknowledging human's awareness of the heavens and in a crude way trying to come to terms with the 'world of the stars' and, in an even cruder way, to somehow reach up to them.
I'm looking forward to reviewing this link and thanks for the reference. The idea of proto-pyramids would not surprise me a bit. Usually there is a combination of factors that allow a designer to take a leap in terms of expression. I'm very interested in creating time lines for all sorts of artifacts and studying the detailing of each item that can be dated. I expect there is a linear development of things as is true today.
I've read only a little on the loaves of bread as triangles. I think the triangle form has a more significant meaning, maybe something which provides the ability for the loaves of bread to exist. But I have much to learn.
wonderful, really appreciated. I'd love to post your comments in the blog if you don't mind so I can keep a record. I am using the blog to explore different ideas and notions, kind of like a scrap book of everything. At some point I'll probably delete things or rebuilt it with more concise information.
regards
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