In the beginning there was nothing. A mound of earth rose from "Nun" (decaying/foul-smelling primordial waters) and upon it Atum created himself. He spat Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture) from his mouth and the two offspring of Atum came into existence.
Atum who was also known as Tiem or Tiemit was the first and most important ancient God to be worshipped by the people of Kemet.
Atum was later combined with God Ra (the rising sun) in both the Pyramid and Coffin Texts and became known as Atum-Ra; meaning "he who emerges from the eastern horizon" and "rests in the western horizon".
In other words as Atum-Ra, he died every night at dusk and resurrected himself at dawn. In this form, Atum also symbolized the setting sun and its journey through the underworld to its rising in the East.
Atum was the father of the Gods, creating the first divine couple: God Shu and Goddess Tefnut, from whom all the other Gods are descended. He was also considered to be the father of the Pharaohs. Many Pharaohs used the title "Son of Atum". Atum's close relationship to the pharaoh is seen in many rituals, and coronation rites.
A papyrus dating to the Late period shows that the God was of central importance to the New Year's festival in which the pharaoh's role was reconfirmed. From New Kingdom onwards, he often made an appearance inscribing royal names on the leaves of the sacred ished tree, and in some Lower Kemetian inscriptions Atum is shown crowning the Pharaoh (for example in the shrine of Ramesses II in Pithom).
Texts in the New Kingdom tombs of the Valley of the Kings near Thebes depict Atum as an aged, ram-headed man who supervises the punishment of evildoers and the enemies of the Sun God Ra. He also repels some of the evil forces in the netherworld such as the serpents: Nehebu-Kau and Apep (Apophis).
He also provided protection to all good people, ensuring their safe passage past the Lake of Fire where there lurks a deadly dog-headed God who lives by swallowing souls and snatching hearts.
#Africa
No comments:
Post a Comment