Elephantine Temple Egypt First Cataract Triad Gods Khnemu or Khnum Satet and Anqet
Elephantine is an this island in Aswan that has played an important roll in Egyptian history and even pre history but today besides the museum and the restored temple dedicated to Sati or Satet probably there is not much that can be appreciated as whole, otherwise most of the island is a shuffle of works of art, only remains partly destroyed temples but all over are found admirable works of art done by outstanding artisans.
>Elephantine or Abu (elephant) was the home of the Egyptian triad Khnum-Satet-Anqet. Khnum the ram headed god was the male member of the triad one of the oldest gods of Egypt, has been worshiped from early dynastic times and most likely earlier, the “Old Egyptian Empire” also built and worshiped there, matter of fact the name of Kheops builder of the great pyramid his Egyptian name was Khufu = Protected by Khnum.
Elephantine was a place of preference for the pharaohs of the “Middle Empire” and continued its importance thought the “New Empire”, the Greco-Roman period and so on.
Khnum one of the most ancient gods of Egypt believed to have solar attributes was a water deity; He was in early times a river god therefore the Nile god and god of the first cataract as well of the god of the yearly inundations of the Nile and for such reason Satet his female counterpart was associated with Isis and the star Sirius on account that the inundations always started the June 18 de when this star made its firth apparition of the year in the sky; also was associated with the potter’s table where he fashioned men, farther on he is also known as being the maker of the gods. His name is represented by a jar of water.
>Elephantine was the capital of the state and for many years was the outer post of the Egyptian empire, also for feign in the frontier besides being a great fortification was a lace for commerce and trade with the Nubians.
Senwosret III pharaoh of the twelfth dynasty built a fortress which was a magnificent strong hold that could not be easy reachable because it was surrounded by water.
At certain time Elephantine had a bridge that had accede to the main land to facilitate the commerce.
As well they construct something of much interest, a clever way to measure the Nile water level; by some ingenious steps that descent to the water level that provided the vital information for agriculture probably a reason that during the reign by Thotmes III a special calendar was developed but only fragment of it has been recuperated.
Another thing that made worldly famous Elephantine is that Eratosthenes of Cyrene a Greek wise man of great knowledge in astronomy and mathematics by making astronomical measurement during the solstice in a well located in Elephantine and comparing them to other cities farther north was able to calculate the circumference of this planet earth by a very approximated figure, around 240 BC.
>Elephantine or Abu (elephant) was the home of the Egyptian triad Khnum-Satet-Anqet. Khnum the ram headed god was the male member of the triad one of the oldest gods of Egypt, has been worshiped from early dynastic times and most likely earlier, the “Old Egyptian Empire” also built and worshiped there, matter of fact the name of Kheops builder of the great pyramid his Egyptian name was Khufu = Protected by Khnum.
Elephantine was a place of preference for the pharaohs of the “Middle Empire” and continued its importance thought the “New Empire”, the Greco-Roman period and so on.
Khnum one of the most ancient gods of Egypt believed to have solar attributes was a water deity; He was in early times a river god therefore the Nile god and god of the first cataract as well of the god of the yearly inundations of the Nile and for such reason Satet his female counterpart was associated with Isis and the star Sirius on account that the inundations always started the June 18 de when this star made its firth apparition of the year in the sky; also was associated with the potter’s table where he fashioned men, farther on he is also known as being the maker of the gods. His name is represented by a jar of water.
>Elephantine was the capital of the state and for many years was the outer post of the Egyptian empire, also for feign in the frontier besides being a great fortification was a lace for commerce and trade with the Nubians.
Senwosret III pharaoh of the twelfth dynasty built a fortress which was a magnificent strong hold that could not be easy reachable because it was surrounded by water.
At certain time Elephantine had a bridge that had accede to the main land to facilitate the commerce.
As well they construct something of much interest, a clever way to measure the Nile water level; by some ingenious steps that descent to the water level that provided the vital information for agriculture probably a reason that during the reign by Thotmes III a special calendar was developed but only fragment of it has been recuperated.
Another thing that made worldly famous Elephantine is that Eratosthenes of Cyrene a Greek wise man of great knowledge in astronomy and mathematics by making astronomical measurement during the solstice in a well located in Elephantine and comparing them to other cities farther north was able to calculate the circumference of this planet earth by a very approximated figure, around 240 BC.
Click here to show more and larger size animated Elephantine temple pictures; Egypt's first cataract gods
Khnum (ram headed god), Satet and Anqet, the oldest Egyptian triad.
Click here for Egypt Land of Eternity Home Page Flash Version by Julian Pardo.
Khnum (ram headed god), Satet and Anqet, the oldest Egyptian triad.
Click here for Egypt Land of Eternity Home Page Flash Version by Julian Pardo.
