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This blog will be Part One of the section on Shrine III.
As we progress through the next few shrines, it will become apparent that there is not much difference, other than size, between Shrines III and II. The two shrines are similar to the chapels in which the Egyptians placed the representations of their divinities; these imitated, in a slightly modernized form, the archaic palace of the Kings of the South. The roof of each shrine bulges above the entrance.
The Palace of the Kings of the South ... drawing by Mark Hasselriis
Inside Shrine III, the ceiling is decorated with the winged sun disk and seven vultures with outspread wings holding the infinity sign. One of the vultures has the head of a snake. Below them is a representation of a flying hawk, symbolizing the king. On the doors and the rear panel, Isis and Nephthys protect the inside of the shrine with outspread wings. On the right panel are two Udja-eyes and a procession of Gods: Hapy, Anubis, Kebeh-senuf, Geb, and Nut. On the left panel are Nut facing Imesty, Anubis, Dua-mutef, Geb, and Horus, Protector of his Father. Thus, when the shrines were in place the procession of Gods on the exterior of Shrine IV faced the procession of Gods on Shrine III.
The Vulture Ceiling in Shrine III ... drawings by Mark Hasselriis
Shrine III
Outside, on the roof, we see the winged solar disk and eight birds with outspread wings holding the sign of infinity. Four are vultures - two vultures with snake heads, and two hawks; the last two probably represent the king as the divine ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt.
On the doors and on the rear panel are two guardian demons and two heralds, with extracts from a portion of 'The Book of the Dead.' The four guardians are ram-headed; the four heralds have the heads, respectively, of a lion with two uraei, of a crocodile, of a bubalis, and of a human being with the horns of a ram.
Guardian of the Underworld as depicted on Tut-Ankh-Amon's Third Shrine, now resides in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
On the side panels, left and right, are abridged versions of the Second and Sixth Divisions of 'The Book of What is in the Netherworld.'
Hours 9 and 10 of The Amduat (listen to the recorded message for an explanation of The Amduat)
Hour 11 of The Amduat (listen to the recorded message for an explanation of The Amduat)
Hour 12 of The Amduat (listen to the recorded message for an explanation of The Amduat)
Interior:
Frame:
Right:
Words spoken by Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re, beloved Son of the Sun, Lord of Diadems, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South:
Great Mother Nut, Brilliant One, residing in the Henu Castle!
Nut answers:
I have spread over thee my arms to protect thee forever, Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, to whom life is given to Re forever and everlastingly.
Left:
Words spoken by Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re, bodily Son of the Sun Lord of Diadems Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South:
Father Geb, Ruler of the Two Banks!
Geb answers:
My heir, he who is made to rule the West, I have caused the Gods of the Desert Necropolis to spread their arms as a protection behind thee, Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu- Re justified one before the Great God.
Below:
The rays of the Disk are a protection over thee, their hands carry health and life, they are health for thy members. Thou flourishest like Re Forever!
Center:
Right (inscriptions accompanying the vulture):
Son of the Sun, beloved by him, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South.
Son of the Sun, Lord of Diadems Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South.
Son of the Sun, Lord of Diadems Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, to whom life is given.
Son of the Sun (who issued) from his body, Tut-Ankh-Amon ruler of Heliopolis of the South, eternal like Re.
Son of the Sun, Lord of Diadems Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, to whom life is given.
Son of the Sun, beloved by him, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, thou livest forever and everlastingly.
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, the justified one.
The Good God, Lord of the Two Lands, Tut-Ankh-Amon, though livest forever and everlastingly.
Left (inscriptions accompanying the vultures):
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, beloved by Re.
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, beloved by Osiris.
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, image of Re, like Re.
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, Chosen by Re, like Re.
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, Chosen by Re, like Re.
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, beloved of Osiris, like Re forever and ever
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, beloved of Osiris, like Re, forever and ever.
King of Upper and Lower Egypt Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, image of Re, the justified one.
The Good God, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one before the Great God
Son of the Sun, beloved by him Neb-Kheperu-Re, beloved by Re, like Re every day.
Front panel with doors:
Frame:
Above (right and left):
Behdety, the Great God.
Right doorjamb:
Thou art with Re in the Barge of Million years, thou sailest in the sky with him every day, King Neb-Kheperu-Re.
Left doorjamb:
Thou art alive like thy father Re, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, Son of the Sun Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South to whom life is given.
On the doors:
Right wing:
Words spoken by Isis:
Thou makest the transformations in heaven like Re, thou art born in the morning like him Thou sailest on high in the Evening Barge, thou joinest the followers of the Disk. Thou art forever enduring, and eternally, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, beloved Son of the Sun Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, beloved Son of the Sun Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, like Re, every day. O Geb, with thy two arms, thou givest light to my face, thou openest my eyes, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, living on Truth, Neb-Kheperu-Re to whom life is given forever.
Left wing:
Words spoken by Nephthys:
Thou wilt be in heaven like Re sailing in the Barge of Million Years. Thou hast overthrown the enemies of Re for him. Thou art with him in the sky forever. Thou doest all his work forever, thy members are his members. Thou art his son living on Truth, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, bodily Son of the Sun, beloved by him, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South. I encircle thee from behind with my arms, thou art not weary, thy members are not tired. Thou shalt be vigorous as king, thy heart will be glad forever.
Right Panel:
Frame:
Above:
Words Spoken:
This Osiris, this son, Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re, image of Re, the justified one, heir of the Ruler of the West, this Horus born is Isis. The countries of the West put their arms behind thee. Osiris, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South.
Right:
The King, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re will take all the forms he likes following Re in the Evening Barge, going to rest in the Morning Barge while being King forever and everlastingly.
Left:
Thy members are pure, thou actest without restraint, thou comest out of thy will, thou livest like Re, every day.
Panel (right to left):
Words spoken:
Thou seest, thou seest like Re every day. Thou protectest the earth, Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one, he whose seat is foremost before all the Gods. The Lord of Life, the coffin, of Osiris Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, endures upon earth. Old, old is Osiris, King-Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one before the Great God! Receive thy mother Nut, she has purified thee, she has fumigated thee, Osiris, King Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South. Take the Eye of Horus from his body - the water of the two red jars - it purifies thee, Osiris, King Neb Kheperu-Re, beloved Son of the Sun Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, justified before the Great God.
Words spoken by Hapy:
I have come to be thy protection, thy head is attached to thy members, thy enemies under thee are stricken, I have given thee the day of eternity. Thou goest to rest like Re in heaven, thou appearest like Shu when he appears. Thou makest all the transformations thou likest. The sky has made the North wind for thy heart, happiness, and food are created tor thee, Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands Neb Kheperu-Re, the justified one, bodily Son of the Sun, beloved of Osiris, the Great God, Ruler of Eternity.
Words spoken by Anubis, He who presides over the Divine Booth:
Thou shalt not be weary, these thy members shall not be tired. I have come to be the protection of thy chest. May thy house prosper eternally as Re himself has decreed. Thy Ka is stable, remaining forever in thy castle of the justified. Thy heart is pleased in the course of the day, thy enemies are overthrown under thee. Thou livest forever and eternally, Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, bodily Son of the Sun, beloved by him, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South. Protection and life are behind him lie to Re!
Thou livest!
Words spoken by Kebeh-senuf:
I am Kebeh-senuf, I have come to be thy protection. Thy bones have been gathered together, thy members reassembled. I have brought thee thy heart, I have placed it on its place in thy body. May thy house prosper after thee. Thou livest in thy beautiful forms like thy father Re, Horus of the Horizon, born in the morning as a fresh youth, every day. Thou art like him forever, Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-r\Re, bodily Son of the Sun Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, beloved of Anubis Imyut, the great God.
Words spoken by Geb:
My arms are behind three, I have illuminated thy face! Thou has opened my eyes, thou has opened my mouth and I speak walking on my legs. I shall be in the following of Re, Horus of the Horizon. I live forever! King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, bodily Son of the Sun, his beloved one, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South. Osiris Unen-nefer, the Great God, Lord of the Sky, Ruler of Eternity.
Words Spoken by Nut:
Spread thyself over thy son Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one, in thy name of Nut. Be not far from this Geb, Osiris, Son of the Sun Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, who lives forever as King Neb-Kheperu-Re wishes. Primeval, First One who appearest as King of Upper and Lower Egypt! Oh, said Re: He will be with me forever! I have spread myself over this son of mine. Mysterious is Osiris, Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one, son of Geb, the first of his princes. I live there forever! The heart of him who acted against thee is sad, Osiris, King Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South. Nut has lifted thee up, thou seest the Gods, living and fresh forever and ever.
Rear Panel
Right:
Words spoken by Nephthys, daughter of Nut the Great, the Brilliant One:
I have been powerful in the body of my mother Tefnut on the day of my birth. I have come, I present Osiris, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheper-Re, the justified one, with life stability, and prosperity, so that he will not die. I am Nut, with a powerful heart when in the body of my mother Tefnut in my name of Nut, while I was powerful in the body of my mother Tefnut. I have filled every place with my beauty. The whole land - I have taken it, I have taken the South and the North, I have encircled all things with my arms. I am thy protection, my arms protect thee, I shield thy members from evil. I have overthrown thy enemies under thy feet. Thy Ka follows thee, he will not part from thee. Sustenance, gifts, and food are for thee every day so that thy heart is pleased with them.
Left:
Words spoken by Isis the Great, daughter of Nut:
Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one before the Great God, he is born among the Gods, among the cedars. Thou has come out indeed, at the head of the Gods in thy name of House of the Lake. Thou art the members of the God himself. I have given birth to Horus, he who repulses thy Adversary, in thy name of He who repulses the Adversary, Osiris, Son of the Sun, Tut-Ankh-Amon, Ruler of Heliopolis of the South, thou livest eternally and forever! For Osiris King Neb-Kheperu-Re is justified by the Ennead! Save Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one, from the butchers of the requisites of the year, who make short work of the wicked in Heliopolis, Osiris, King Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, the justified one, knows the Udja-eye of the Lord, he has saved it from the hand of the evildoer, and Thoth investigated it. Save you Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one, from these who come near.
Left panel
Frame:
Above:
Words spoken by Nut the Great, the Brilliant One, residing in the Henu Castle:
My son Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re, living forever and ever, beloved by his father Shu, beloved by Tefnut, Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, living forever.
Right:
Words spoken by Geb to Osiris, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one:
He is Re! thy life is eternity; thou art fresh in the morning like him.
Left:
The King, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, is young eternally, light is for him, he makes his transformations in heaven and upon hearth. Thou hast made him as he is, eternally and forever.
Panel:
Words spoken by Nut the Great and Mighty:
I have become a soul. I have become a spirit. I have been mighty in the body of Tefnut my mother on the day of birth. I have come, I present Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands, he who appears in the White Crown, Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one with life, stability, and prosperity that he may not die forever. I am Nut, my heart was powerful when I moved about in the body of my mother Tefnut, in my name Nut when being powerful in the body of my mother. She has filled all places when she came into being. She has taken hold of the South and the North, she encircles everything in her arms.
Words spoken by Imesty:
I am Imesty, son of Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Kheperu-Re, living forever and ever. I have come to be thy protection, I cause that thy house may prosper. Endure, endure! By the order of Ptah, as well as by the order of Re himself, I made that thy Ka remains before thee for eternity and forever while thou art in thy forms like Re, Horus of the Horizon, who has given thee birth himself in the morning. Thou shinest forth and goest to rest with him. Thou art his son, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, living forever, bodily Son of the Sun, beloved by him, Lord of Diadems, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South Thou livest like Re every day.
Words spoken by Anubis Imyut:
Ho, mother Nut! Come! The veil placed on thee by him who acted against thee is removed. I will be the protection of thy coffin while thou livest forever like Re in all his forms. Thou art in thy beautiful forms like Re, thou flourishest like Shu at sunrise. Thou art his son, thou has come out of his members, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, justified one, Son of the Sun of his body, Lord of Diadems, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, to whom life, prosperity, and prosperity were given as to thy father Re, every day.
Words spoken by Dua-mutef:
I am thy son, Horus, thy beloved one. I have protected my father Osiris, King Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, the justified one, from him who caused him damage. I have come, I have placed him under thy feet, forever, O King with living forms! Thou joinest Re in his Evening Barge, thou sailest with him in the Barge of Million Years! Thou art the Son of Re, Horus of the Horizon, he who defends the One on High. Thou overthrowest for him his enemies every day, Osiris, King, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, Son of the Sun, Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South, living forever.
Words spoken by Geb:
I shall be thy protection. I have driven away thy enemy who is under thee. I shall be in thy following as the protection of thy members while thou art King as long as Re rises and acts in heaven. Thy Ka is created in thy castle forever thou art fed on the feast of thy Re. Sustenance, gifts, and food are given to thee by the earth, created by heaven. Geb brings to thee the whole earth to thy castle for justified is the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands Neb-Kheperu-Re, Son of the Sun, of his body, his beloved one Tut-Ankh-Amon, ruler of Heliopolis of the South.
Words spoken by Horus, Protector of his Father;
I have come to be in thy following, Osiris, King Neb-Kheperu-Re. I have overthrown all thy enemies in heaven and upon earth. I protect thee from the evildoer. Thy members flourish in life, thy respect is in the hearts of men, the whole Ennead of Gods fear thee as they do the majesty of Re. Thou has power over thy Ka, thou last power over the sustenance, thou hast power over the food thou hast power over the water, thou has power over the wind! Thou has come into being as thou wishest every day, thou takest the form of a living God.
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I believe it will be helpful to put in a few words of explanation again for this blog post. Because the following term 'members' is used so much throughout these texts, I think it is wise to remind the reader that 'members' is the description of Aton, the God of Akhenaton; a disk whose rays terminate in human hands holding the sign of life.
On the panel (right to left), the words spoken contain an inscription which is under the two Udja-eyes. This alludes to the ceremony of Opening the Mouth and the Eyes. Within that same inscription, there is a reference to the water of the two red jars ... here the Eye of Horus is identified with the two red jars, a gift presented to the deceased.
In the section that immediately follows, Anubis speaks his words as he presides over the Divine Booth. When he refers to 'thy heart is pleased' ... this means, in a literal sense ... that 'thy heart is sweet.'
Under the section in which words are first spoken by Geb, he refers to 'thou has opened my mouth.' this refers to the ceremony of Opening the Mouth and the Eyes.
In the next section, we see the inscription that tells us the first time Nut has spoken. She tells us that 'the heart of him who acted against thee is sad' and this refers to Geb ... she refers to Seth, who was, as we have already seen, a God of the Netherworld.
Seth carved in relief ... found in Tut-Ankh-Amon's tomb ... now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
It seems that Nut and Tefnut are the same entity. It is unknown why the two names are used interchangeably.
The God Horus is always able to vanquish Seth and places him under the feet of Osiris/Re and has to carry Seth. The enemies of Egypt, the symbolic nine bows, were identified with the confederate of Seth and were frequently represented and referred to as being placed under the soles under the Pharaoh's feet.
*As a side note, the golden ceremonial slippers found in King Tut's tomb had inscriptions of King' Tut's enemies in life on them. In this way, King Tut could 'walk on his enemies' in life and the afterlife. The inscriptions were also on his everyday sandals.
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I have provided a graphic describing King Tut's tomb and the rooms that had to be unsealed before the shrines and actual mummy could be accessed in a previous blog post, I found this one recently which was published in Popular Science Magazine in .1923. I thought it may be of interest:
Darkmum
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