#Manetho

[mouseshallot]

Really messy sketch of Manetho as a test for a new coloring style

[promptuarium]

HERCULES, the son (as it is said) of Jupiter and Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon, was born in the 2715th year of the world, the 1247th before Christ was born. He lived 52 years. He died by fire, and was the first of the great pirates, according to Manetho. About this Hercules whom the Greeks claim as their own, they declare many things, or rather tell many stories, which will not be detailed in this passage.

For this passage, the deeds they attribute to be outstanding among all Hercules’s other deeds, by their custom. His twelve labors, which are said to have been preeminent, are described in depth by Diodorus of Sicily, book 5. He went from Hispania to Italy 55 years before Aeneas. He slew Cacus, and gave the Italians laws. He seized Troy, and slew Laomedon because he did not pay his reward. He made Priam, son of the slain one, King of Troy. Eventually, as a cure for a burning sickness, he threw himself headlong into burning flames. Thus the strongest of all men suffered his fate.

Dionysius of Halicarnassus, book 1, says that this greatest leader cleansed the world of tyranny. Diodorus, Herodotus, Vergil and Ovid each tell many things about Hercules in many passages.

[indecisiveavocado]

"Europeans think 100 km is a long distance. Americans think 100 years is a long time." and jews laugh at both of them.

[finelythreadedsky]

constructing an elaborate scenario in my head in which one of the charred herculaneum papyri that looks like a tamale turns out to be book two of aristotle's poetics

[ratscullion]

Business

[milky-rozen]

According to Manetho, an ancient Egyptian priest and historian, there was a time when the gods ruled over Egypt long before the first pharaoh was crowned.

In House of the Sun, the gods continued to rule over Kemet even during the age of mankind, though their domain became limited to the divine realm and the maintenance of cosmic balance, as they left humans to govern their own affairs and society.

The House of Ra had always passed the crown down to the first male heir, until the reign of Set, when the issue of lacking an heir began to shape the fate of future rulers. After the Contendings of Horus and Set ended with Horus’s victory and eventual coronation, that very problem opened the way for a new rule to be established.

Horus the Younger, choosing not to bear an heir in order to preserve cosmic balance, named his successor based on personal judgment. The crown was passed to his mentor and vizier, Thoth, who ultimately returned it to the only goddess at the center of the pantheon’s structure: Ma’at, the still-reigning goddess of justice and cosmic order.

[whencyclopedia]

Nitocris

Nitocris (2184-2181 BCE) is the Greek name for Nitiqret, the last monarch of the 6th Dynasty of Egypt which concluded the period of the Old Kingdom (c. 2613-2181 BCE). Nitocris is best known from the story told of her by Herodotus (484-425/413 BCE) in his Histories (Book II.100) in which she murders the assassins of her brother at a banquet.

More than Just a Name?

For the past century the historicity of Nitocris has been questioned by scholars, even though her name appears on the Turin King's List of Egyptian monarchs, is also mentioned by Manetho (3rd century BCE) in his list of 6th century Egyptian monarchs and by Eratosthenes of Cyrene (276-194 BCE) in his Theban List of Egyptian Monarchy. Flavius Josephus (37-100 CE) references Herodotus' story in his Antiquities of the Jews (Book VIII.6.2) calling her Nicaule and does not question the authenticity of the tale. Eratosthenes' mention of Nitocris is known through the work of Apollodorus of Athens (c. 180 BCE) which is cited by Syncellus (c. 810 CE) in his Selection of Chronography. Still, because there is no physical evidence of this queen - no inscriptions, no monuments, no tomb - nor any later reference to her, some scholars have claimed her name is simply a scribal error for that of the last king of the 6th Dynasty, Neitiqerty Siptah.

Recently, however, an increasing number of Egyptologists and scholars have come to accept that Herodotus' account may have some basis in fact and Nitocris is increasingly being recognized as the first Queen Regnant of Egypt and the last monarch of the Old Kingdom. The underlying reason for this new evaluation of Nitocris is unclear but may have to do with the kind of evidence first presented by the Egyptologist Percy E. Newberry (1869-1949 CE) who argued that Nitocris was an actual Egyptian ruler, not just a character in a fable repeated by Herodotus, and that her historicity should be accepted.

Continue reading...

[literaryvein-reblogs]

More Ancient Egyptian Art Vocabulary

for your next poem/story

Double crown - the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt worn together

Dynasty - a series of rulers descending within a family; following the Ptolemaic historian Manetho, ancient Egyptian history is divided into thirty dynasties

Faience - a powdered quartz paste, which is modeled or molded and fired; it is either self-glazed or made with applied glaze

False door - a panel in the form of a niched doorway through which the deceased could receive offerings

Gesso - a mixture of whiting and glue often used to prepare a surface for painting

Harakhty - “Horus of the horizon,” the god of the rising sun, depicted as a falcon or a falcon-headed human crowned by a sun disk

Hathor - a goddess sometimes depicted as a cow or with cow’s horns and ears; associated with joy, music, and love

Heh - god of millions of years, of eternity

Hieratic - handwritten counterpart to the hieroglyphic script, developed in the Old Kingdom mainly for writing on papyrus; written from right to left

Hieroglyph - a Greek word meaning “sacred symbol.” In Egypt, one of some seven hundred signs used in writing (considerably more if one counts signs used exclusively in the Old Kingdom and the periods after the New Kingdom). “Hieroglyphs” refers to the signs themselves; “hieroglyphic script” is Egyptian writing. (Calling the signs “hieroglyphics” is incorrect.)

Horus - ancient sky god in the form of a falcon, embodiment of the divine powers of the living king; son of Osiris and Isis

Ideogram - (sense sign) a hieroglyph signifying the actual object depicted or a closely connected notion

Isis - wife of Osiris, mother of Horus, the divine magician because of her extraordinary powers, divine mourner of the dead; her name is written with the hieroglyphic sign for “throne,” which she wears on her headdress

Ka - life force; the hieroglyphic sign is a pair of extended arms

Maat - right order and justice established by the gods, personified by the goddess Maat, who wears an ostrich feather on her head or is represented by the ostrich feather itself

Magic rod - a squared or rectangular object carved with symbols, such as felines, crocodiles, protective wedjat eyes, and baboons tending lamps, that Egyptians may have believed helped the sun reappear each day from the chaos of night. These rods were placed in tombs to guarantee a similar rebirth to the deceased.

Mastaba - a type of Egyptian tomb having a rectangular superstructure with exterior walls slightly slanting inward as they rise; contains chapels, chambers, and a shaft leading to an underground burial

Mortuary temple - a temple erected and endowed by a king where he could receive offerings in perpetuity after his death

Mut - “mother”: worshiped as the consort of Amun; shown as a vulture or as a woman wearing the double crown

Myrrh - a fragrant aromatic plant gum used in making perfume, unguents, and incense

Source ⚜ More: Word Lists

[misssomniferum]

The Abydos Kings List

[Source: @egyptiancopticlanguage on Instagram]

Excerpt from original post:

“This is a king list from the temple of 19th Dynasty king Seti I in Abydos (ꜣbḏw / Ⲉⲃⲱⲧ).

In comparison to lists on papyrus, like the Turin King List, this stone-carved list is in pristine condition and one of the most intact Egyptian king lists.

The list is biased though and deliberately excludes dynasties and rulers that were apparently seen as illegitimate during Seti's reign.

The most significant gaps in this list are:

- The 7th Dynasty (1st Intermediate Period) is missing, though its existence is disputed anyway.

- The 9th and 10th Dynasties (1st Intermediate Period) are missing completely.

- The 11th Dynasty (1st Intermediate Period / Middle Kingdom) is mostly missing. Only the last two rulers, Mentuhotep III and IV, are listed.

- The entire 2nd Intermediate Period (13th‒17th Dynasties) is missing.

- In the 18th Dynasty Akhenaten and his successors Tutankhamun and Ay are missing.

For some kings I am listing several names, though it is not always guaranteed that those names represent the same king, especially in earlier dynasties (for example Menes and Narmer). If available I am also trying to match them with Hellenzied names from Manetho.

Even though there is no indication of a system of different dynasties (as mentioned much later by Manetho) in this list, the kings in this list are mostly associated with the following dynasties:

1‒8 = 1st Dyn

9‒14 = 2nd Dyn

15‒19 = 3rd Dyn

20‒25 = 4th Dyn

26‒33 = 5th Dyn

34‒39 = 6th Dyn

40‒56 = 8th Dyn

57‒58 = 11th Dyn

59‒65 = 12th Dyn

66‒74 = 18th Dyn

75‒76 = 19th Dyn.”

[mouseshallot]

Quick sketch of Manetho since I haven't drawn him in a while

[spacejax]

I have to summarize my professor's "modernized" translations of herodotus and manetho and it is borderline unreadable

[aristoteliancomplacency]

The lack of citations on the Wikipedia page for Manetho is one of those times where I’m like ‘oh nah. You’d have to pay me to fix that.’

[garland-on-thy-brow]

Originally Demotic wsjr-ḥp, ("Osiris-Apis"), the name of the deity is derived from the syncretic worship of Osiris and the bull Apis as a single deity under the Egyptian name wsjr-ḥp. This name was later written in Coptic as ⲟⲩⲥⲉⲣϩⲁⲡⲓ Userhapi; Greeks sometimes used an uncommon form Sorapis (Koinē Greek: Σόραπις), slightly closer to the Egyptian name(s). The earliest mention of a "Sarapis" occurs in the disputed death scene of Alexander (323 BCE),[6] but it is something of a mixup: The unconnected Babylonian god Ea (Enki) was titled Šar Apsi, meaning "king of the Apsu" or "the watery deep",[b] and Ea as Šar Apsi seems to be the deity intended in the description of Alexander's death. Since this "Sarapis" had a temple at Babylon, and was of such importance that only Sarapis is named as being consulted on behalf of the dying king, Sarapis of Babylon appears to have radically altered perceptions of mythologies in the post-Alexandrian era. His significance to the Hellenic psyche, due to the mention in the story of Alexander's death, may have also contributed to the choice of the similar-sounding Osiris-Apis as the chief Ptolemaic god, even if the Ptolemies understood that they were different deities. [...] According to Plutarch, Ptolemy stole the cult statue from Sinope in Asia Minor, having been instructed in a dream by the "unknown god" to bring the statue to Alexandria, where the statue was pronounced to be Serapis by two religious experts. One of the experts was of the Eumolpidae, the ancient family from whose members the hierophant of the Eleusinian Mysteries had been chosen since before history, and the other was the scholarly Egyptian priest Manetho, which gave weight to the judgement both for the Egyptians and the Greeks.

- Wikipedia on Serapis

Help. Everything about this is crazy.

[sherdnerd]

Now I'm done college, time to debate whether or not to devote my free time to writing a comprehensive history of ancient Egypt based on the structure of the Abydos king list and Manetho's writings. It would take literally years but also it would be really fun

[milky-rozen]

Ok so,,,

this is going to be a veery long rant, but I couldn't help opening up about this situation once again.

So,,,

Yesterday I shared a post with the ages and some birthdays of the gods according to my story and,,,

Guess what?

The expert who once scolded me for using the "wrong" hieroglyphs in the Valentine’s post is back again! And this time, they subtly accused me of spreading historical misinformation for having "shared dates based on the wrong calendar" (the Augustan one) and for referencing Manetho, a Ptolemaic historian known for,,, well, taking a fair amount of artistic liberties, to talk about mythology lol.

Now.

I am well aware that the sources I used here aren't the most reliable but, as an artist, I simply used that information to make a creative choice to build the lore of my webcomic. And yet, they made it sound like I was sharing some serious misinformation or something.

What bothers me the most tho is that this isn’t even the first time this person has come to me to passive-aggressively point out my "mistakes".

it's the third.

And it’s always over the tiniest details.

Now, I do respect their work, but I’ve reached the point where I’m tired of having to justify myself over and over again. I understand the internet is full of misinformation, but that’s not on me.

I always try to be as intellectually honest as possible, constantly reminding people that I'm not a scholar, and sharing the sources when some specific topic is involved.

It’s not my job to be an educator or a historian, yet I try to be accurate because I care. That’s a responsibility that should fall on actual experts, not on some random Tumblr artist doodling silly comics in their spare time.

I always widely welcome criticism, and I do crave for some enlightening conversations. But being approached like I’m some sort of fraud? Like dude, my Imposter Syndrome is already doing that job for me, and I think it's enough.

As an artist, I know what I’m doing. And if they don’t like it, that’s fine. But I’m done being constantly underestimated just because I’m not an expert.

That’s it.

Now, I don’t know if it’s just a communication issue. Maybe it’s just me, and they genuinely wanted to warn me about the possibility of people misunderstanding my words.

But like,,,

having to remind me that lies can be spread easily online ALL THE TIME? I wasn’t born yesterday. I’m old and knowledgeable enough to understand that.

[whencyclopedia]

The kings of the First Dynasty of Egypt (c. 3150 - c. 2890 BCE) all worked toward the same ends: increasing trade, expansion of the kingdom through military campaigns, engaging in building projects (such as monuments, tombs, and temples), and securing central rule of the country. They ruled from the city of Thinis, near Abydos, and from Memphis. The first king, according to Manetho's chronology, was Menes who has come to be identified with the pharaoh once thought to be his successor, Narmer. Narmer united the regions of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt under central rule initially at Thinis before then building a palace at Memphis and shifting the seat of government to that city. Historian Margaret Bunson writes: The 1st Dynasty, begun at Memphis by Menes, was marked by significant cultural achievements. He cemented his claims to the throne and by instituting, or reinforcing, the previous modes of governmental and religious traditions that would become unique aspects of Egypt's heritage. Papyrus, writing, and a calendar were in use, and linear measurements, mathematics, and astronomy were practiced. A census, tax assessments, the reestablishment of boundaries after the yearly Nile inundations, and the development of new astronomical instruments moved the nation to new heights (77). Narmer's queen, Neithhotep, may have been the first female ruler in Egypt after his death. The kings who followed Narmer all continued his policies. The greatest of these was Den (c. 2990 BCE) who is the first monarch depicted wearing the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, indicating his dominance over the whole region. Den's mother was Merneith who may have ruled as regent when he was young or may have reigned over Egypt as Neithhotep possibly did earlier. Military campaigns were launched against Nubia, Libya, and Sinai during the First Dynasty which resulted in greater wealth and expanded territory for Egypt and those borderlands not firmly defended were annexed. The kings of the First Dynasty were, for the most part, very effective rulers. Only Anedjib and Semerkhet are recorded as having troubled reigns. Under the rule of the pharaohs, Egypt grew from a largely agrarian culture to an increasingly urbanized state. The Egyptians seem to have been careful, however, to avoid the pitfalls of urbanization which characterized Mesopotamian cities such as overpopulation and overuse of land and water resources. The following list of First Dynasty kings is based on Manetho's chronology, the Turin King List, and archaeological evidence as given in the scholarly work Ancient Egypt: Foundations of a Civilization by Douglas J. Brewer. The dates of the reigns are approximate. Each pharaoh built upon what had been established by their predecessor and worked to preserve the principle of ma'at (harmony) in the land. Owing to their unity of vision, and a lack of written records, it is difficult to precisely date their reigns. Exact dating is further complicated by a new model of reading ancient inscriptions (such as the Narmer Palette) symbolically rather than literally. Whereas, in the early 20th century CE, a piece like the Narmer Palette was read as history, it is now interpreted as representing cultural values of the period. While there is certainly some logic and method to this new approach, it makes precise dating nearly impossible. Narmer (also known as Menes, c. 3150 BCE) Unified Upper and Lower Egypt and established a central government at Thinis (possibly his home city though he is also associated with Hierakonpolis) which then moved to Abydos and then Memphis. He married the princess Neithhotep of Naqada to solidify his rule and ally himself with Naqada's ruling house. Religious practices were developed and large building projects were initiated. Narmer also most likely led military expeditions to put down rebellions in Lower Egypt and to expand the territories into Nubia and Canaan. After his death, it is possible that Neithhotep reigned under her own authority. If so, she would be the first female ruler of Egypt and among the first in history, pre-dating early regents such as Sammu-Ramat of Assyria. Hor-Aha (c. 3100 - 3050 BCE; Greek name: Athotis) was most likely the son of Narmer and Neithhotep (though he has been associated with Menes/Narmer himself). He continued his father's policies of military campaigns in Nubia but seems to have neglected Canaan. Archaeological evidence from his time indicates he was primarily interested in religious rites and building the type of tomb known as a Mastaba (Arabic for "bench") which was a precursor to the pyramids. The necropolis of Memphis dates to his reign. Djer (c. 3050 - 3000 BCE; Greek name: Uenephes), probably the son of Hor-Aha, concerned himself largely with building palaces and military expansion. He extended his rule through military campaigns in Nubia and Canaan and used the resources gained in his building projects. Trade and industry grew under his reign. Djet (c. 3000 - 2990 BCE; Greek name: Usaphais) was probably the son of Djer, but nothing is known of his reign. He was buried at Abydos. He was succeeded by his wife, Queen Merneith. Merneith (c. 2990 BCE) was the wife of Djet and mother of his successor Den. There is no doubt she ruled as regent when Den was still a child but may have ruled on her own and by her own authority. Manetho does not mention her in his chronology but artifacts found in her tomb at Abydos indicate she was queen of Egypt. Her influence seems to have continued into her son's reign so, even if she did not rule in her own right, she certainly exercised power over the throne. Den (c. 2990 - 2940 BCE; Greek name: Kenkenes) was the son of Djet and Merneith. He is the first king depicted wearing the crown of both Upper and Lower Egypt. He ruled Egypt for 50 years (though part of that reign could have been under Merneith) and enlarged the country through military conquests in Sinai. Temple complexes and elaborate tombs were built under his reign and trade flourished. The Cult of Apis (also known as Hapi), the intermediary bull-deity between humans and gods, was introduced during his reign. He is considered the greatest king of the First Dynasty. Anedjib (c. 2940 - 2930 BCE; Greek name: Miebidos) was possibly Den's son but most likely his son-in-law. His reign was characterized by rebellion and little else is known of him. Semerkhet (c. 2930 - 2920 BCE; Greek name: Semempses) was considered a usurper by archaeologists and scholars for many years based upon his alleged desecration of Anedjib's name on various artifacts. This theory has been discredited with the discovery of the Cairo Stone which records his legitimate reign and his tomb. He seems to have had as difficult a time as Anedjib in controlling his kingdom Qa'a (c. 2920 - 2890 BCE; Greek name: Beieneches) was the last ruler of the First Dynasty. Very little is known about his reign except that it was very prosperous and lasted between 26 and 34 years. He was a relative of Semerkhet, probably his son. Either he had no children of his own or his sons fought over the throne since, after his death, war broke out for succession between a prince named Sneferka and another named Horus Bird. Their conflict was resolved by another prince known as Hotepsekhemwy - who either defeated them or reconciled them or both - and who then went on to found the Second Dynasty.