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14/03/2019

Ancient urban villa with shrine for ancestor worship discovered in Egypt

01/01/2018

Today 31 December 2017 - XIV day of Shef-Bedet, the fifth month of the Lunar Calendar (in the CDXVIII Great Year of Ra according to the Civil Calendar).

Religious Prescriptions:
Adverse day
“Do not go out of your house on any road on this day.”

Religious Festivities:
The XIV day of the lunar month is sacred to Iunyt. It is the “Feast of Recognition”, and Hem-n-Ba is the God of the Feast.

- “It is the day of the going forth of Seth together with his confederates to the Eastern Horizon (...).” [c.c. and S. pap.]

- Feast of the Navigation of Hathor (...)
(seven-day festivity, VI day)
[T. Behdet, c. Hathor]

- Feast of the Navigation of Hathor at Nitentóre (...)
(seven-day festivity, VI day)
[T. Nitentóre]

(quotes from
“Egyptian Religious Calendar: CDXVII-CDXVIII Great Year of Ra (2017CE)”, where you will find the full version of the Egyptian Calendar with the complete translation of the Temples’ calendars. The new edition of the Egyptian Religious Calendar for the next year 2018 is available both in paperback format and as a digital ebook: http://a.co/7jF2Kjy )

granite statue of the God Amon-Ra in His form of sacred ram protecting King Taharqa;
ca. 680 BCE, from the Temple of Amon-Ra at Gematen (now called "kawa", between the III and IV Cataracts of the Nile), Upper Kush/Nubia (Sudan). Now in the Ashmolean Museum...

01/01/2018

Today 1 January 2018 - XV day of Shef-Bedet, the fifth month of the Lunar Calendar (in the CDXVIII Great Year of Ra according to the Civil Calendar).

Best wishes to all for a happy and joyous New Year 2018!!!

Religious Prescriptions:
Favorable day
“Apply your heart to your local Gods, propitiate your 'Kau' (k3w , the spirits) and exalt your crew during the day, on this day.”

Religious Festivities:
The XV day of the lunar month is sacred to Thoth. It is the “Feast of the half-month Day” and Ir-em-auay is the Goddess of the Feast.

- Feast of the Navigation of Hathor (seven-day festivity, last day):
“Feast of the Navigation of the Goddess:
Procession to the shore of the Sacred Lake (...).”
[T. Behdet, c. Hathor]

- “The Grand and Great Feast:
(...) there is singing, dancing, prancing and rejoicing (...).”
[T. Behdet, c. Hathor]

- Feast of the Navigation of Hathor at Nitentóre (...)
(seven-day festivity, last day)
[T. Nitentóre]

(quotes from
“Egyptian Religious Calendar: CDXVIII-CDXIX Great Year of Ra (2018CE)”, where you will find the full version of the Egyptian Calendar with the complete translation of the Temples’ calendars. The book is available both in paperback format and as a digital ebook: http://a.co/7jF2Kjy )

bronze counterpoise of a 'menat'-necklace with three images of the Goddess Hathor (on both sides):
on the top, the head of Hathor, wearing the vulture headdress and the Solar disk with cow's horns;
in the center, Hathor is represented standing, holding the 'Uas'-scepter and wearing the Solar disk with cow's horns;
below, Hathor in Her form of sacred cow wearing the Solar disk, standing in a papyrus barque.
From Semna, Kush/Nubia (Sudan), dated to the reign of King Amenhotep III. Now in the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston...

28/12/2017

Today 28 December 2017 - XI day of Shef-Bedet, the fifth month of the Lunar Calendar (in the CDXVIII Great Year of Ra according to the Civil Calendar).

Religious Prescriptions:
Favorable day

Religious Festivities:
The XI day of the lunar month is sacred to Hathor of Nitentóre. It is the “Feast of the Sun's rays” and Nedjety-Ur is the God of the Feast.

- “Crossing over in the presence of Nun from the Temple of Hapy, the Father of the Gods and the Ennead (...).”
[c.c.]

- Feast of the Navigation of Hathor (...)
(seven-day festivity, III day)
[T. Behdet, c. Hathor]

- Feast of the Navigation of Hathor at Nitentóre (...)
(seven-day festivity, III day)
[T. Nitentóre]

- Feast of the Navigation at 'Iunyt' (four-day festivity, III day):
“Navigation for four days.”
[T. Iunyt]

- “Feast of Hathor, Queen of 'Agny'.”
[T. Iunyt]

(quotes from
“Egyptian Religious Calendar: CDXVII-CDXVIII Great Year of Ra (2017CE)”, where you will find the full version of the Egyptian Calendar with the complete translation of the Temples’ calendars. The new edition of the Egyptian Religious Calendar for the next year 2018 is available both in paperback format and as a digital ebook: http://a.co/7jF2Kjy )

glazed composition amulet (h 23.6cm) from the Temple of Mut of Napata (Temple B300) at Napata, Kush/Nubia (Sudan); 700-500 BCE. Now in the British Museum...
The 'Ankh', the symbol of Life, with the 'Uas'-scepter and the 'Djed'-pillar topped by the kneeling figure of Heh (the God of Eternity).
At right, the amulet's reverse without the 'Uas'-scepter

22/12/2017

Today 21 December 2017 - IV day of Shef-Bedet, the fifth month of the Lunar Calendar (in the CDXVIII Great Year of Ra according to the Civil Calendar).

Winter Solstice: Glorious and Blessed Winter Solstice to everyone!!!
In the Egyptian religion the period of the Year around the Winter Solstice is connected to the Myth of the Distant Goddess, the Eye of Ra, and to the celebrations for Her return to Egypt after Her wanderings in the southern lands (and in fact the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the northern path of the Sun), hence in these days we are sharing images and informations related to the Sacred Land of Kush (Nubia) and to the Kings of Napata/Meroë.

Religious Prescriptions:
Favorable day
“Anyone born on this day will die in great old age and rich in every good thing.”

Religious Festivities:
The IV day of the lunar month is sacred to Tefnut. It is the “Feast of the Going Forth of the Sem-priest” and Imseti is the God of the Feast.

(quotes from
“Egyptian Religious Calendar: CDXVII-CDXVIII Great Year of Ra (2017CE)”, where you will find the full version of the Egyptian Calendar with the complete translation of the Temples’ calendars. The new edition of the Egyptian Religious Calendar for the next year 2018 is available both in paperback format and as a digital ebook: http://a.co/7jF2Kjy )

faience amulet of the Eye Goddess, the "Eye of Ra", lioness-headed, winged, wearing the Solar disk with the Uraeus; on each arm of the Goddess, an Uraeus with the Solar disk and cow's horns;
on the reverse (at right), a papyrus column topped by the Hathor-head wearing the Sistrum-Crown.
From the "House of Eternity" [Ku53] of Queen Tabiry in the Royal Necropolis of Karoy (now called "kurru"), ca. 743-712 BCE. Now in the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston...

17/12/2017

Today 16 December 2017 - XXIX day of Khiak, the fourth month of the Lunar Calendar (in the CDXVIII Great Year of Ra according to the Civil Calendar).

Religious Prescriptions:
Favorable day

Religious Festivities:
The XXIX day of the lunar month is sacred to Atum. It is the “Feast of the Attender” and Utetj-itef is the God of the Feast.

- “Sacred day of festivity in 'Rosetau' (the Netherworld) (...).”
[c.c. , S. pap. , and T. Ramses II Abydos]

- “Feast of Neith, the Great Feast of Heka and the Feast of the Child at Sais (...).” (four-day festivity, I day)
[T. Iunyt]

(quotes from
“Egyptian Religious Calendar: CDXVII-CDXVIII Great Year of Ra (2017CE)”, where you will find the full version of the Egyptian Calendar with the complete translation of the Temples’ calendars. The new edition of the Egyptian Religious Calendar for the next year 2018 is available both in paperback format and as a digital ebook: http://a.co/7jF2Kjy )

"Neith the Great, the Divine Mother of the Gods" (translation of the hieroglyphs on the top right).
The Goddess Neith (wearing the Red Crown) and Her two sons, Sobek and Shemanefer, represented as two baby crocodiles.
Drawing from "Panthéon égyptien, collection des personnages mythologiques de l'ancienne Égypte, d'apres les monuments" by J. F. Champollion

16/11/2017

Today 15 November 2017 - XXVIII day of Hathor, the third month of the Lunar Calendar (in the CDXVIII Great Year of Ra according to the Civil Calendar).

Religious Prescriptions:
Adverse day (the night is favorable)
“Do not go out at midday today.”

Religious Festivities:
The XXVIII day of the lunar month is sacred to Shu. It is the “Feast of the Jubilee of Nut” and Khnum is the God of the Feast.

- “It is the day when Gods and humans judge the speech of the crew in On-Heliopolis (...).” [c.c.]

- “Feast of Entering the Temple of Shentayet (eighteen-day festivity, IX day).”
[T. Behdet, c. Hathor]

- Mysteries of Osiris at Philae and Abaton (nineteen-day festivity, VI day).
[cfr. Fêtes d'Égypte, Françoise Perpillou-Thomas]

(quotes from
“Egyptian Religious Calendar: CDXVII-CDXVIII Great Year of Ra (2017CE)”, where you will find the full version of the Egyptian Calendar with the complete translation of the Temples’ calendars. The book is available both in paperback format and as a digital ebook: http://a.co/8oFE52w )

Temple of the Goddess Isis at Philae (now on the Agilkia island):
the two protective guardian Lions flanking the Entrance-Gate of the First Pylon, and the Gate of King Ptolemy II; on the background, at right, the Kiosk of the Emperor Traianus.

(The faces of the Lions have been impiously hammered by the christians...)

31/10/2017

Today 31 October 2017 - XIII day of Hathor, the third month of the Lunar Calendar (in the CDXVIII Great Year of Ra according to the Civil Calendar).

Religious Prescriptions:
Favorable day
“If you see anything on this day, it will be good.”

Religious Festivities:
The XIII day of the lunar month is sacred to Tjenenyet. It is the “Feast of Seeing the Rays of the Sun” and Tekenu of Ra is the God of the Feast.

- “All the Gods and all the Goddesses are in festivity, the Heaven and the Land are in joy.”
[c.c. and S. pap.]

- “Feast of Hathor Who lives in Ombos (...).” (V day)
[T. Ombos, east side]

- “the Gods come from Their provinces to contemplate the Venerable God (six-day festivity, II day)”
[T. Iunyt]

- “Feast of Khnum.”
[T. Iunyt]

(quotes from
“Egyptian Religious Calendar: CDXVII-CDXVIII Great Year of Ra (2017CE)”, where you will find the full version of the Egyptian Calendar with the complete translation of the Temples’ calendars. The book is available both in paperback format and as a digital ebook: http://a.co/8oFE52w )

Temple of Neith and Khnum at 'Iunyt' (Esna),
detail from a column:
a 'Rekhyt'-bird flanked by flowers, sitting on a 'neb'-basket, with human arms raised in adoration; to the right, a star.
The 'Rekhyt'-bird is the lapwing, and it represents the common people; the whole phrase "the 'Rekhyt', the basket, and the star" means "all the people give praise"

28/10/2017

the Goddess Hathor, wearing the Solar disk with cow's horns; on Her forehead is represented the Uraeus.
Detail from the counterpoise of a 'menat'-necklace; ca. 1390–1352 BCE. Now in the Metropolitan Museum...

28/10/2017

gold amulet (H. 2.7cm) of the God Ptah, mummiform;
Third Intermediate period-Late period (ca. 1070–332 BCE). Now in the Louvre Museum...

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