Difference between revisions of "Abydos, Egypt" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Abydos''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: أبيدوس, [[Greek language|Greek]] Αβυδος), is one of the most ancient cities of [[Upper and Lower Egypt|Upper Egypt]], dating back to the late prehistoric era. About 11 km (6 miles) west of the [[Nile]] and 300 miles south of Cairo, the ancient site is a mosiac of styles and customs, representing the political, social and religious evolution of the long lasting Egyptian Empire | + | '''Abydos''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: أبيدوس, [[Greek language|Greek]] Αβυδος), is one of the most ancient cities of [[Upper and Lower Egypt|Upper Egypt]], dating back to the late prehistoric era. About 11 km (6 miles) west of the [[Nile]] and 300 miles south of Cairo, the ancient site is a mosiac of styles and customs, representing the political, social and religious evolution of the long lasting Egyptian Empire. |
| − | + | {{Egyptian Location | Location=Ancient site of Abydos | Left=114 | Top=99 }} | |
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
The city was originally called Abdju (technically, ''3b<u>d</u>w'', hieroglyphs shown to the right), which meant "the hill of the symbol or reliquary". The name Abydos comes from the Greeks, who named the city after the port city of the same name located on the [[Hellespont]]. The modern [[Arabic language|Arabic]] name is [[el-'Araba el Madfuna]] ({{lang-ar|العربة المدفنة}} ''al-ʿarabah al-madfunah''). | The city was originally called Abdju (technically, ''3b<u>d</u>w'', hieroglyphs shown to the right), which meant "the hill of the symbol or reliquary". The name Abydos comes from the Greeks, who named the city after the port city of the same name located on the [[Hellespont]]. The modern [[Arabic language|Arabic]] name is [[el-'Araba el Madfuna]] ({{lang-ar|العربة المدفنة}} ''al-ʿarabah al-madfunah''). | ||
| − | ==Early | + | ==Early and Middle Dynasties== |
| − | The history of the city begins in the late prehistoric age, before Egypt was a unified civilization. The oldest tombs and structures are located in the lower northern desert of the site, mostly consisting of rulers and persons of high social status in the pre-dynastic era, the oldest seeming to date back 150 years befores the 1st dynasty. A majority of these tombs have been plundered and sustained damage from natural disasters, but at least one tomb, U-j, still contains enough artwork and funeral acessories as evidence that the Egyptians made technological and artistic achievements centuries before the unified civilization that created the more recignizable pyramids. <ref> Parsons, Marie. 2005 [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/abydos.htm "Abydos in Egypt"] Tour Egypt, 2005 | + | |
| + | The history of the city begins in the late prehistoric age, before Egypt was a unified civilization. The oldest tombs and structures are located in the lower northern desert of the site, mostly consisting of rulers and persons of high social status in the pre-dynastic era, the oldest seeming to date back 150 years befores the 1st dynasty. A majority of these tombs have been plundered and sustained damage from natural disasters, but at least one tomb, U-j, still contains enough artwork and funeral acessories as evidence that the Egyptians made technological and artistic achievements centuries before the unified civilization that created the more recignizable pyramids. <ref> Parsons, Marie. 2005 [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/abydos.htm "Abydos in Egypt"] Tour Egypt, 2005. Retrieved December 20, 2006</ref> | ||
| − | The Royal Tombs of the earliest dynasties were placed about a mile back on the great desert plain, in a place now known as [[Umm el-Qa'ab]]. The earliest is about 10 × 20 ft. inside, a pit lined with brick walls, and originally roofed with timber and matting. Others also before Menes are 15 × 25 ft. The tomb probably of Menes is of the latter size. After this the tombs increase in size and complexity. The [[tomb-pit]] is surrounded by chambers to hold the offerings, the actual [[sepulchre]] being a great wooden chamber in the midst of the brick-lined pit. Rows of small tomb-pits for the servants of the king surround the royal chamber, many dozens of such burials being usual. | + | When the dynasties of Egyptian civilization were established, Abydos was still being used primarily as a cemetary. The Royal Tombs of the earliest dynasties were placed about a mile back on the great desert plain, in a place now known as [[Umm el-Qa'ab]]. The earliest is about 10 × 20 ft. inside, a pit lined with brick walls, and originally roofed with timber and matting. Others also before Menes are 15 × 25 ft. The tomb probably of Menes is of the latter size. After this the tombs increase in size and complexity. The [[tomb-pit]] is surrounded by chambers to hold the offerings, the actual [[sepulchre]] being a great wooden chamber in the midst of the brick-lined pit. Rows of small tomb-pits for the servants of the king surround the royal chamber, many dozens of such burials being usual. It was at this time, around the 1st dynasty, that private citizens began to be buried at the site in pit-tombs. |
By the end of the 2nd dynasty the type changed to a long passage bordered with chambers on either hand, the royal burial being in the middle of the length. The greatest of these tombs with its dependencies covered a space of over 3000 square yards (2,500 m²). The contents of the tombs have been nearly destroyed by successive plunderers; enough remained to show that rich jewellery was placed on the mummies, a profusion of vases of hard and valuable stones from the royal table service stood about the body, the store-rooms were filled with great jars of wine, perfumed ointment and other supplies, and tablets of ivory and of ebony were engraved with a record of the yearly annals of the reigns. The sealings of the various officials, of which over 200 varieties have been found, give an insight into the public arrangements.<ref>Petrie, ''Royal Tombs'', i. and ii.</ref> | By the end of the 2nd dynasty the type changed to a long passage bordered with chambers on either hand, the royal burial being in the middle of the length. The greatest of these tombs with its dependencies covered a space of over 3000 square yards (2,500 m²). The contents of the tombs have been nearly destroyed by successive plunderers; enough remained to show that rich jewellery was placed on the mummies, a profusion of vases of hard and valuable stones from the royal table service stood about the body, the store-rooms were filled with great jars of wine, perfumed ointment and other supplies, and tablets of ivory and of ebony were engraved with a record of the yearly annals of the reigns. The sealings of the various officials, of which over 200 varieties have been found, give an insight into the public arrangements.<ref>Petrie, ''Royal Tombs'', i. and ii.</ref> | ||
| − | + | ==Later Dynasties== | |
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| − | + | A major change in function and perspective happened around the 12th Dynasty, when the tomb of King Djer was mistaken for the that of [[Osiris]], the jackal-head God of the netherworld and the site took the vestage of a sacred site. The natural entrance to the canyon that leads to Abydos helped symbolize the belief that Abydos was a conduit between this world and the afterlife, a place to bury the dead, practice death rites and worship Osiris. <ref> Baines, J and J. Malek [http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/goto?id=enc142 "Abydos (Egypt)"] The British Museum, 1995. Retrieved, December 20, 2006 </ref> | |
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| − | + | The 12th Dynasty was also the beginning of a long period of massive improvements to the site, starting with the gigantic tomb that was cut in the rock by [[Senusret III]]. During the 19th Dynasty [[Seti I]] founded a great new temple to the south of the town. This is the building best known as the Great Temple of Abydos, being nearly complete and an impressive sight. A principal purpose of it was the adoration of the early kings, whose cemetery, to which it forms a great funerary chapel, lies behind it. The long list of the kings of the principal dynasties carved on a wall is known as the "[[Table of Abydos]]" (showing the [[cartouche]] name of every dynastic pharaoh of Egypt from the first, [[Narmer]]/[[Menes]], until the pharaohs of the last dynasty). So rare as a full list of pharaoh names, the Table of Abydos, re-discovered by [[William John Bankes]], has been called the "Rosetta Stone" of Egyptian archaeology, analogous to the [[Rosetta Stone]] for Egyptian writing, beyond the [[Narmer Palette]].<ref name=TEwjb>Misty Cryer, "Travellers in Egypt - William John Bankes" (2006), TravellersinEgypt.org, web: [http://www.travellersinegypt.org/archives/2004/10/william_john_bankes.html TravEgypt-WJB]: re-discovered Table of Abydos.</ref> The temple was originally 550 ft. long, but the forecourts are scarcely recognizable, and the part in good state is about 250 ft. long and 350 ft. wide, including the wing at the side. Both Rameses II and Menreptah added to the tomb later on. Rameses II completed the construction and the built a smaller temple of his own, simpler in design and scope, but did contain many signifigant historical accounts on its walls. Menreptah added what is known as the Hypogeum of Osiris, connected to Seti I's temple by large chambers. In the Hypogeum, the Osiris mystery rituals were practiced. | |
| − | + | This time period is well known for the amount of building and re-building that took place. The [[Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt|18th dynasty]] began with a large chapel of [[Ahmose]], and then [[Thutmose III]] built a far larger temple, about 130 × 200 ft. He made also a processional way past the side of the temple to the cemetery beyond, with a great gateway of granite. [[Ramesses III]] added a large building; and [[Ahmose II]] in the 26th dynasty rebuilt the temple again, and placed in it a large monolith shrine of red granite, finely wrought. The foundations of the successive temples were comprised within about 18 ft. depth of ruins; these needed the closest examination to discriminate the various buildings, and were recorded by over 4000 measurements and 1000 levellings.<ref>Petrie, ''Abydos'', ii.</ref> | |
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| − | The [[Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt|18th dynasty]] began with a large chapel of [[Ahmose]], and then [[Thutmose III]] built a far larger temple, about 130 × 200 ft. He made also a processional way past the side of the temple to the cemetery beyond, with a great gateway of granite. [[Ramesses III]] added a large building; and [[Ahmose II]] in the 26th dynasty rebuilt the temple again, and placed in it a large monolith shrine of red granite, finely wrought. The foundations of the successive temples were comprised within about 18 ft. depth of ruins; these needed the closest examination to discriminate the various buildings, and were recorded by over 4000 measurements and 1000 levellings.<ref>Petrie, ''Abydos'', ii.</ref> | ||
It was extensive in the 12th and 13th dynasties and contained many rich tombs. A large number of fine tombs were made in the 18th to 20th dynasties, and later ages continued to bury here till Roman times. Many hundred funeral steles were removed by Mariette's workmen, without any record of the burials.<ref>Mariette, ''Abydos'', ii. and iii.</ref> Later excavations have been recorded by [[Ayrton]], Abydos, iii.; [[Maclver]], ''El Amrah and Abydos''; and [[Garstang]], ''El Arabah''. | It was extensive in the 12th and 13th dynasties and contained many rich tombs. A large number of fine tombs were made in the 18th to 20th dynasties, and later ages continued to bury here till Roman times. Many hundred funeral steles were removed by Mariette's workmen, without any record of the burials.<ref>Mariette, ''Abydos'', ii. and iii.</ref> Later excavations have been recorded by [[Ayrton]], Abydos, iii.; [[Maclver]], ''El Amrah and Abydos''; and [[Garstang]], ''El Arabah''. | ||
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[[Image:Abydos King List.jpg|thumb|235px|Part of the Abydos King List]] | [[Image:Abydos King List.jpg|thumb|235px|Part of the Abydos King List]] | ||
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 16:50, 27 December 2006
| Name of Abydos in hieroglyphs | ||||
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Abydos (Arabic: أبيدوس, Greek Αβυδος), is one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, dating back to the late prehistoric era. About 11 km (6 miles) west of the Nile and 300 miles south of Cairo, the ancient site is a mosiac of styles and customs, representing the political, social and religious evolution of the long lasting Egyptian Empire.
Name
The city was originally called Abdju (technically, 3bdw, hieroglyphs shown to the right), which meant "the hill of the symbol or reliquary". The name Abydos comes from the Greeks, who named the city after the port city of the same name located on the Hellespont. The modern Arabic name is el-'Araba el Madfuna (Arabic: العربة المدفنة al-ʿarabah al-madfunah).
Early and Middle Dynasties
The history of the city begins in the late prehistoric age, before Egypt was a unified civilization. The oldest tombs and structures are located in the lower northern desert of the site, mostly consisting of rulers and persons of high social status in the pre-dynastic era, the oldest seeming to date back 150 years befores the 1st dynasty. A majority of these tombs have been plundered and sustained damage from natural disasters, but at least one tomb, U-j, still contains enough artwork and funeral acessories as evidence that the Egyptians made technological and artistic achievements centuries before the unified civilization that created the more recignizable pyramids. [1]
When the dynasties of Egyptian civilization were established, Abydos was still being used primarily as a cemetary. The Royal Tombs of the earliest dynasties were placed about a mile back on the great desert plain, in a place now known as Umm el-Qa'ab. The earliest is about 10 × 20 ft. inside, a pit lined with brick walls, and originally roofed with timber and matting. Others also before Menes are 15 × 25 ft. The tomb probably of Menes is of the latter size. After this the tombs increase in size and complexity. The tomb-pit is surrounded by chambers to hold the offerings, the actual sepulchre being a great wooden chamber in the midst of the brick-lined pit. Rows of small tomb-pits for the servants of the king surround the royal chamber, many dozens of such burials being usual. It was at this time, around the 1st dynasty, that private citizens began to be buried at the site in pit-tombs.
By the end of the 2nd dynasty the type changed to a long passage bordered with chambers on either hand, the royal burial being in the middle of the length. The greatest of these tombs with its dependencies covered a space of over 3000 square yards (2,500 m²). The contents of the tombs have been nearly destroyed by successive plunderers; enough remained to show that rich jewellery was placed on the mummies, a profusion of vases of hard and valuable stones from the royal table service stood about the body, the store-rooms were filled with great jars of wine, perfumed ointment and other supplies, and tablets of ivory and of ebony were engraved with a record of the yearly annals of the reigns. The sealings of the various officials, of which over 200 varieties have been found, give an insight into the public arrangements.[2]
Later Dynasties
A major change in function and perspective happened around the 12th Dynasty, when the tomb of King Djer was mistaken for the that of Osiris, the jackal-head God of the netherworld and the site took the vestage of a sacred site. The natural entrance to the canyon that leads to Abydos helped symbolize the belief that Abydos was a conduit between this world and the afterlife, a place to bury the dead, practice death rites and worship Osiris. [3]
The 12th Dynasty was also the beginning of a long period of massive improvements to the site, starting with the gigantic tomb that was cut in the rock by Senusret III. During the 19th Dynasty Seti I founded a great new temple to the south of the town. This is the building best known as the Great Temple of Abydos, being nearly complete and an impressive sight. A principal purpose of it was the adoration of the early kings, whose cemetery, to which it forms a great funerary chapel, lies behind it. The long list of the kings of the principal dynasties carved on a wall is known as the "Table of Abydos" (showing the cartouche name of every dynastic pharaoh of Egypt from the first, Narmer/Menes, until the pharaohs of the last dynasty). So rare as a full list of pharaoh names, the Table of Abydos, re-discovered by William John Bankes, has been called the "Rosetta Stone" of Egyptian archaeology, analogous to the Rosetta Stone for Egyptian writing, beyond the Narmer Palette.[4] The temple was originally 550 ft. long, but the forecourts are scarcely recognizable, and the part in good state is about 250 ft. long and 350 ft. wide, including the wing at the side. Both Rameses II and Menreptah added to the tomb later on. Rameses II completed the construction and the built a smaller temple of his own, simpler in design and scope, but did contain many signifigant historical accounts on its walls. Menreptah added what is known as the Hypogeum of Osiris, connected to Seti I's temple by large chambers. In the Hypogeum, the Osiris mystery rituals were practiced.
This time period is well known for the amount of building and re-building that took place. The 18th dynasty began with a large chapel of Ahmose, and then Thutmose III built a far larger temple, about 130 × 200 ft. He made also a processional way past the side of the temple to the cemetery beyond, with a great gateway of granite. Ramesses III added a large building; and Ahmose II in the 26th dynasty rebuilt the temple again, and placed in it a large monolith shrine of red granite, finely wrought. The foundations of the successive temples were comprised within about 18 ft. depth of ruins; these needed the closest examination to discriminate the various buildings, and were recorded by over 4000 measurements and 1000 levellings.[5]
It was extensive in the 12th and 13th dynasties and contained many rich tombs. A large number of fine tombs were made in the 18th to 20th dynasties, and later ages continued to bury here till Roman times. Many hundred funeral steles were removed by Mariette's workmen, without any record of the burials.[6] Later excavations have been recorded by Ayrton, Abydos, iii.; Maclver, El Amrah and Abydos; and Garstang, El Arabah.
Notes
- ↑ Parsons, Marie. 2005 "Abydos in Egypt" Tour Egypt, 2005. Retrieved December 20, 2006
- ↑ Petrie, Royal Tombs, i. and ii.
- ↑ Baines, J and J. Malek "Abydos (Egypt)" The British Museum, 1995. Retrieved, December 20, 2006
- ↑ Misty Cryer, "Travellers in Egypt - William John Bankes" (2006), TravellersinEgypt.org, web: TravEgypt-WJB: re-discovered Table of Abydos.
- ↑ Petrie, Abydos, ii.
- ↑ Mariette, Abydos, ii. and iii.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
- Encyclopædia Britannica Online, "Abydos" search: EncBrit-Abydos, importance of Abydos.
- Ayrton, Abydos, iii.
- Lumir G. Janku, 1996, "The Abydos Mystery" webpage: EnigmasOrg-Abydos.
- Mariette, Auguste, Abydos, ii. and iii.
- Murray, Margaret Alice, The Osireion at Abydos (Egyptian Research Account, 9 Ninth Year), Hardcover, reprint edition, June 1989 (from 1904), ISBN 1854170414.
- William Flinders Petrie, Abydos, i. and ii.
- William Flinders Petrie, Royal Tombs, i. and ii.
External links
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