Female egyptian deities with male characteristic : researching the reasons
Résumé
This poster is about three female Egyptian deities that can be represented with male characteristics: Neith, Mut, Sekhmet. Since it is believed that it is not possible to apply modern categories to ancient times, the reasons for these characterisations should be searched in Ancient Egyptian culture itself where, in certain circumstances, gender fluidity was possible. All of these deities portray belligerent or dangerous/aggressive aspects; there is also evidence of Mut and Neith role as creator goddesses. In the Amduat funerary text Neith is referred to as Njt-TAjt and in Esna she is said to be both male and female. In the temple of Hibis there is a relief with an ithyphallic Mut, while in Karnak there is a female lion-headed ithyphallic goddess. Given the fact that representations of an ithyphallic Sekhmet also exist, such as the ones kept in the LACMA, the goddess on this relief could be either Mut or Sekhmet. Again in Khonsu's Temple there are some mentions of Mut as the "Mother who gave birth to her Father".
Domaines
Archéologie et PréhistoireOrigine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
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