The Art Institute of Chicago

As always, I look for connections to ancient mythology every where I go.  The Art Institute of Chicago was no exception.  I've heard the Institute has over 200,000 pieces of art in their collection with multiple rotating exhibits throughout the year.  I zeroed in on some ancient art from Greece, Rome, and Egypt.  Enjoy.

 

Athena

 

 

Dionysus

 

 

 

The abduction of Persephone

 

 

 

Egyptian Boat

 

 

 

Page from the Book of the Dead found in a Woman's grave

 

 

 

 

 

Canopic Jars

 

 

 

Horus statues giving the "Code of Silence" Hand Gesture

 

 

 

 

Ancient Egyptian during the 2nd Century AD

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bes (in the middle) who was the dwarf god who protected women and children

 

 

 

Amulet necklace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hydra - one of the twelve labors of Heracles

by Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com and http://hiddenhumanstory.blogspot.com/)

Links:

http://www.artic.edu/

Pharaoh Ahmose I Kicked out the Hyksos

 

Pharaoh Ahmose I runs out the Hyksos

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hyksos.jpg

 

 

Egypt had been invaded by the Hyksos who took over the Egyptian lands and enslaved everyone.  After a 30 year war, Ahmose I, drove them out.  The kingdom belonged to the Princes of Thebes, not to the invading Hyksos.  The original Egypt was divided into 2 kingdoms (per the decision of Geb the father god), called Upper and Lower Egypt.  The two kingdoms were combined after King Menes (Scorpion) united the kingdoms.  It appears to me, that there were black pharaohs and white pharaohs and possibly Dravidian pharaohs (from India).  If you look at the statues of the kings, you can draw your own conclusions.  Perhaps these two groups interbred to make one king line or one group of kings took over the united throne.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pharaohs


According to wikipedia:

The conflict between the local kings of Thebes and the Hyksos king Apepi had started during the reign of Seqenenre Tao and would be concluded, after almost 30 years of intermittent conflict and war, under the reign of Ahmose I. Seqenenre Tao was possibly killed in a battle against the Hyksos, as his much-wounded mummy gruesomely suggests, and his successor Kamose (likely Ahmose's elder brother) is known to have attacked and raided the lands around the Hyksos capital, Avaris (modern Tell el-Dab'a).^[6] Kamose evidently had a short reign, as his highest attested regnal year is year 3, and was succeeded by Ahmose I. Apepi may have died near the same time. The two royal names—Awoserre and Aqenienre—known for Apepi attested in the historical record were for the same Hyksos king that were used by Ahmose's opponent at different times during the latter king's reign.
 

This event is the real Exodus spoken about in the bible.  The Tempest Stele also describes incredible storms that came through Egypt at the same time:

The Tempest Stele (alt. Storm Stele) was erected by Ahmose I early in the eighteenth dynasty of Egypt, circa 1550 BCE. The stele describes a great storm striking Egypt during this time, destroying tombs, temples and pyramids in the Theban region and the work of restoration ordered by the king.^[1]
 

Ahmose I was part of the eighteenth dynasty of Egypt which included very famous pharaohs such as Akhenaten, Thutmose, and Hatshepsut.  According to wikipedia, the Hyksos dynasty didn't last too long and came out of ancient Babylon known as the fertile crescent and they appeared to have only five kings:

The Fifteenth Dynasty arose from among the Hyksos people who emerged out of the Fertile Crescent to establish a short-lived governance over much of the Nile region, and ruled from 1674 to 1535 BC.
 

The following excerpt from wikipedia describes the Hyksos invaders:

The Hyksos or Hycsos (pron.: /ˈhɪksɒs/; Egyptian heqa khasewet, "foreign rulers"; Greek Ὑκσώς, Ὑξώς) were a mixed people from West Asia who took over the eastern Nile Delta, ending the thirteenth dynasty, and initiating the Second Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt.^[3]

The Hyksos first appeared in Egypt c.1800 BC, during the eleventh dynasty, and began their climb to power in the thirteenth dynasty, coming out of the second intermediate period in control of Avaris and the Delta. By the fifteenth dynasty, they ruled Lower Egypt, and at the end of the seventeenth dynasty, they were expelled (c.1560 BC).

The Hyksos practiced horse burials, and their chief deity became the Egyptian storm and desert god, Seth, whom they identified with their native storm god.^[4] Although most Hyksos names seem Semitic, the Hyksos also included Hurrians, who, while speaking an isolated language, were under the rule and influence of Indo-Europeans.^[5]

The Hyksos brought several technical improvements to Egypt, as well as cultural impulses such as new musical instruments and foreign loan words. The changes affected techniques from bronze working and pottery to weaving, and new breeds of animals and new crops were introduced. In warfare, they introduced the horse and chariot, the compound bow, improved battle axes, and advanced fortification techniques.^[6] 

Modern scholarship usually^[who?] assumes that the Hyksos were likely Semites who came from the Levant. Kamose, the last king of the Theban 17th Dynasty, refers to Apophis as a "Chieftain of Retjenu (i.e., Canaan)" in a stela that implies a Semitic Canaanite background for this Hyksos king: this is the strongest evidence for a Canaanite background for the Hyksos. Khyan's name "has generally been interpreted as Amorite "Hayanu" (reading h-ya-a-n) which the Egyptian form represents perfectly, and this is in all likelihood the correct interpretation."^[8] Kim Ryholt furthermore observes the name Hayanu is recorded in the Assyrian king-lists for a "remote ancestor" of Shamshi-Adad I (c. 1813 BC) of Assyria, which suggests that it had been used for centuries prior to Khyan's own reign.^[9]
 

 

Hyksos People

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ibscha.jpg

 

According to wikipedia the Hyksos were kicked out of Egypt and pushed into Canaan:

Ahmose I, who is regarded as the first king of the Eighteenth Dynasty may have been on the Theban throne for some time before he resumed the war against the Hyksos.

The details of his military campaigns are taken from the account on the walls of the tomb of another Ahmose, a soldier from El-Kab, a town in southern Upper Egypt, whose father had served under Seqenenra Tao II, and whose family had long been nomarchs of the districts. It seems,^{[citation needed]} that several campaigns against the stronghold at Avaris were needed before the Hyksos were finally dislodged and driven from Lower Egypt. When this occurred is not known with certainty. Some authorities^[who?] place the expulsion as early as Ahmose's fourth year, while Donald Redford, whose chronological structure has been adopted here, places it as late as the king's fifteenth year. The Ahmose who left the inscription states that he followed on foot as his King Ahmose rode to war in his chariot (the first mention of the use of the horse and chariot by the Egyptians); in the fighting around Avaris he captured prisoners and carried off several hands (as proof of slain enemies), which when reported to the royal herald resulted in his being awarded the "Gold of Valor" on three separate occasions. The actual fall of Avaris is only briefly mentioned:

"Then Avaris was despoiled. Then I carried off spoil from there: one man, three women, a total of four persons. Then his majesty gave them to me to be slaves."^[33]

After the fall of Avaris, the fleeing Hyksos were pursued by the Egyptian army across northern Sinai and into southern Canaan. Here, in the Negev desert between Rafah and Gaza, the fortified town of Sharuhen was reduced after, according to the soldier from El-Kab, a long three-year siege operation. How soon after the sack of Avaris this Asiatic campaign took place is uncertain. One can reasonably conclude that the thrust into southern Canaan probably followed the Hyksos’ eviction from Avaris fairly closely, but, given a period of protracted struggle before Avaris fell and possibly more than one season of campaigning before the Hyksos were shut up in Sharuhen, the chronological sequence must remain uncertain
 

I find it interesting that the mummies were desecrated during the recent Egyptian riots.  The heads of two mummies were ripped off (which ones were they?).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/29/egyptian-museum-looted-egypt_n_815869.html


by Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)


Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmose_I

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempest_Stele

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pharaohs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyksos

Central American Collars and Egyptian Collars

One thing at the Milwaukee Public Museum that stuck out in my mind is the collar worn by Central and South American men and/or women that is very similar to ancient Egyptian collars.  The following is a picture of collars worn by men of the Eastern Panamanian Guaymi tribe:

Now let's look at some pictures of  ancient Egyptian collars that I took at the Chicago Field Museum:

I find the two types of collars very similar.  Many Europeon men used to wear collars and scarves and then they transitioned to ties.  Perhaps this ancient type of clothing is related across the globe and across time.



by Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaym%C3%AD_people

Destroying Ancient Artifacts, Osiris, King Menes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%27Le_Sphinx_Armachis,_Caire%27_(The_Sphinx_Armachis,_Cairo).jpg

I just read an article about a group of men who want to destroy the ancient ruins in Egypt because they consider them pagan.  Unfortunately, many artifacts have already been destroyed (the Buddha statues, the Alexandrian Library, the Mayan Codices, and much more) because men want to rewrite history and be in charge of other people.  There is still much to learn from the past.  To not know your past is a sure way to repeat it.  To allow others to rewrite and hide the past is a sure way to be their "slave."

It is said that Osiris was murdered by his brother Set.  His body was dismembered and it is said that his head is buried in Abydos.  Perhaps this is not a myth, but rather a true piece of history.  After doing a lot of research, I found an interesting story about the first king/pharaoh of Egypt who went to war to create Egypt.  His name was King Menes.  Some believe he is also named Narmer and possibly King Scorpion.  The Turin and Abydos king lists site him as the first pharaoh of a united Egypt and the founder of the first Dynasty of Egypt.  The capital of Egypt was Memphis (near Cairo, today).

The Narmer palette shows a view of his conquests. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NarmerPalette_ROM-gamma.jpg

This palette is dated to around 3100 B.C., that is about 5100 years ago.  King Narmer was married to Queen Neithhotep and had one son name Hor-Aha.  Narmer was killed by a Hippopotumus.  His son was also menaced by a Hippopotumus.  The Hippopotumus was a symbol of Set so is this recorded piece of history reflecting the real Osiris?  Hor-Aha had 4 sons:  Djer, Rhejet (Rhjt), Heti (Htj) and Saiset (S3jst).  The Horus of legend had 4 sons who became the symbols on the 4 canopic jars used for burial.


If this was the historical Osiris, then it is very important to preserve the history of the world whether your religion agrees with it or not.  It is significant because Osiris was a demi-god giant who was around during the time of his father, Geb, and this gives a very important time-line to the past. 


It is said that Osiris or King Narmer may have been the biblical Nimrod.  He appears to also be the legendary Dumuzi, Bacchus, Dionysis, Queztlcoatl, Kulkukan, Viracocha, Red Horn, Lono, Balder, Vritra, and many other names.  These are global legends about the same person who appears to have part of his body burried in Egypt.  It was said that Osiris civilized the world.  He created Egypt, travelled around the world and taught humans the art of agriculture and farming (humans were said to have devolved into cannibalism at this time) and many other "mysteries."


We need to study the past so that we know who we are, not destroy the past so someone can play world tyrant.  Just think of all the information that went up in flames when the Library of Alexandria was burnt to fuel bath houses.  I also personally believe there is a another female sphinx burried under the sand.  I believe the one you see represents Horus or Hor-Aha and the one burried represents his mother, Isis or Queen Neithhotep.  The dream stele of Thutmose IV not only shows two sphinxs back to back, but it also shows an underground chamber below the sphinx.  Can you imagine what is in there?  I can and I wrote about it my 6th book, The Library Kids The Pharaoh's Clue.  Here is a picture of a reproduction of the dream stele that sits between the paws of the Great Sphinx:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ReproductionOfDreamSteleOfThutmoseIV_RosicrucianEgyptianMuseum.png

 

 

By Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hor-Aha

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narmer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narmer_Palette

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NarmerPalette_ROM-gamma.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/10/editorial-islamist-pyramid-scheme/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sphinx_of_Giza

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thutmose_IV

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ReproductionOfDreamSteleOfThutmoseIV_RosicrucianEgyptianMuseum.png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Dream_Stele_of_Thutmosis_IV

Egyptian Pantheon

The land and culture of ancient Egypt goes back thousands of years.  Ancient Egypt was able to sustain a bloodline dynasty for over 6,000 years and probably as far back as 42,000 years.  The last pharaoh of Egypt was Caesarion who was the son of Cleopatra and Caesar.  Egypt fell to the Romans and then to the Arabs.  The Coptics are considered to be the remnants of some of the ancient Egyptians. 

Today Egypt has a population of about 82 million people.  Some of the ancient architecture of ancient Egypt is still around and being preserved.  The ancient pantheons of Egypt had different names for their gods/goddesses depending on the location and time of ancient Egypt.  Around 6,000 years ago, Egypt was divided into two kingdoms (lower and upper Egypt) when it was united by Pharaoh Scorpion (Narmer). 

Here is a list of some of the major gods/goddesses of ancient Egypt:

Isis - Mother of the dynasty, wife of Osiris, mother of Horus, Goddess of Magic
Osiris - God of the Dead and God of the Crops, Lord of Sirius, Father of Horus
Horus - God of Egypt, Fought Set for his Kingdom
Set - God of the Desert, Murdered Osiris
Anubis - Half- Brother of Horus
Geb - God of the Earth, Father of Osiris, Set, Nephthys and Isis
Nephthys - Sister of Isis
Nut - Sky Goddess and Sister-wife of Geb, Mother of Osiris, Set, Nephthys and Isis



By Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)


Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:All_Gizah_Pyramids.jpg (creative commons licensed by Ricardo Liberato)