Egyptian Neters Discussion Thread (weekly)

[HetHert]

In this thread I'd like to take the time to learn about each of the Neters that comprise the Egyptian pantheon(s). Please post what you know of the Neter being discussed be it from books, research, personal gnosis... When relevant we may also discuss pairs, triads, and what have you. I'd also like to introduce the idea of grouping Neters by nome so when we exhaust one nome we can go back and talk about the pantheon of that nome in it's entirety. I think it's important to understand how the Neters stand alone as well as work together.

Amun Neter of the Creative Force means "Hidden" or "Invisible One" and is a diety of the air.

History of Amun's evolution: He is originally found mentioned in the Pyramid Texts dating back to the 5th dynasty during the Old Kingdom. He has had to main centers of worship and flourish in Khemenu (Hermopolis) and Waset (Thebes). It is not certain that we may connect the Amun of Khemenu and Waset. The oldest Amun was a member of the Ogdoad of Khemenu. Amun's sacred animal is the ram as there is a particular breed of sheep found only in the region of Khemenu. It is a species that is characterized by it's pecularly large horns, virility, and quarrelsome nature. After displacing Montu from his place heading the nome Amun took over the symbol of this Ram for himself and thus became his sacred animal.
Amun is always portrayed as a man wearing a cap surmounted by two tall plumes and a sundisk. The implied hidden nature of Amun was expressed by the cuystome of covering his shrines in veils or shrouds. The ba (soul) of Amun was enshrined in a serpent shaped septre called Kem-at-ef (He who has finished his moment) which could have been seen as his original fetish. The virility and fertility of Amun was also protrayed in his association to the goose.
Waset (Thebes) is a place where Amun flourished greatly as the city is of strategic location being placed on both sides of the river and flanked by Nubia which provided manpower and gold. Waset was to become the capitol city of Egypt around the 11th Dynasty a position it held for 50 years. It was at the time that the last king of the 11th dynasty, Mentuhotep IV, was overthrown by his chief minister a follower of Amun, that the new king and founder of the 12th dynasty, Amenemhat (Amun is Supreme) moved the capitol to Itje-tawy some 30km south of Memphis.
Amun of Waset gained even greater importance in the New Kingdom during the reigns of the warrior kings Thutmose III and Ramsesses II for their conquests gained much wealth and donated it to Amun. Thutmose II can attribute his coming to power to an oracle of Amun proclaiming his position as ruler while he was a child. Now when Thutmose II died Thutmose III's step mother Hatshepsut came to power at first as reagant for the young Thutmose the III and then as the Female King for the next 22 years. Hatshepsut favored Amun so much that she proclaimed him her heavenly father in her temple Deir el-Bahri. She also had obelisks erected at the temple Karnak for Him. When Thutmose III finally achieved reign he too dedicated himself to Amun as where his progeny that followed. Amun was to reign over the nome for the next 150 years and gained notoriety as a war god as well.
During the New Kingdom the face of Amun evolved as new shrines and temples were built sometimes replacing previous ones honoring other gods. Eventually Amun's worship spread from the east coast of Waset, where all the temples were located, to the west coast housing the necropolis tieing his worship to both the living and the dead. His priests eventually came to tie his characteristics so strongly to Ptah, Re, and Tatanen that he eventually usurped their powers for his own and became known as a cosmic creator god, self-engendered, who was born of no mother or father, shaped his own egg, and mingled his seed with his own body to make his egg come into being thusly taking the form of Tanen to give birth to the gods. It became a claim that Waset was the birthplace of the gods. As such Amun became known as Amen-Re-Nesu-neteru (Amen-Re, King of the Gods). Amun's power was to become so complete over the years that by the 28th dynasty a religious revolution was to take place. His eclipse was short lived and by the 29th dynasty he was reinstated.

I'll post some more on Amun when I can, in the mean time jump in and add what you can.

[HetHert]

Oooh just found a little something Kaylara posted here:

HYMN TO AMUN-RA

(Egyptian)

HAIL to thee, Amun-Ra, Lord of the thrones of the earth, the oldest existence, ancient of heaven, support of all things;
Chief of the gods, lord of truth; father of the gods, maker of men and beasts and herbs; maker of all things above and below;
Deliverer of the sufferer and oppressed, judging the poor;
Lord of wisdom, lord of mercy; most loving, opener of every eye, source of joy, in whose goodness the gods rejoice, thou whose name is hidden.
Thou art the one, maker of all that is, the one; the only one; maker of gods and men; giving food to all.
Hail to thee, thou one with many heads; sleepless when all others sleep, adoration to thee.
Hail to thee from all creatures from every land, from the height of heaven, from the depth of the sea.
The spirits thou hast made extol thee, saying, welcome to thee, father of the fathers of the gods; we worship thy spirit which is in us.

[HetHert]

Temple Ritual <-- this is a 15 page pdf of an actual ritual at the temple of Amun-Re at Karnak.

I've saved it for safe keeping.