Ramesses II
whom victory was foretold as he came from the womb,
Whom valor was given while in the egg,
Bull firm of heart as he treads the arena,
Godly king going forth like Montu on victory day.
Whom valor was given while in the egg,
Bull firm of heart as he treads the arena,
Godly king going forth like Montu on victory day.
— from the Bentresh stela[3]
The Egyptians thought that Montu would attack the enemies of Maat (that is, of the truth, of the cosmic order) while inspiring, at the same time, glorious warlike exploits.[6] It is possible that Montu-Ra and Atum-Ra symbolized the two kingships, respectively, of Upper and Lower Egypt.[7] When linked with Horus, Montu's epithet was "Horus of the Strong Arm".[8]
In Egyptian art, Montu was depicted as a falcon-headed or bull-headed man, with his head surmounted by the solar disk (because of his conceptual link with Ra[2]) and two feathers. The falcon was a symbol of the sky and the bull was a symbol of strength and war. He could also wield various weapons, such as a curved sword, a spear, bow and arrows, or knives: such military iconography was widespread in the New Kingdom (16th-11th centuries BC).
around 2055 BC, to the reunification of Egypt, the end of a period of chaos known today as the First Intermediate Period, and a new era of greatness for the country. This part of Egyptian history, known as the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055–1650 BC),[11] was a period in which Montu assumed the role of supreme god — before then gradually being surpassed by the other Theban god Amun, destined to become the most important deity of the Egyptian pantheon.[2]
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AMEN AND AMEN-RA
Of the attributes ascribed to Amen in the Ancient Empire nothing is known, but, if we accept the meaning "hidden" which is usually given to his name, we must conclude that he was the personification of the hidden and unknown creative power which was associated with the primeval abyss, gods in the creation of the world, and all that is in it. The word or root amen, certainly means "what is hidden," "what is not seen," "what cannot be seen," and the like, and this fact is proved by scores of examples which may be collected from texts of all periods. In hymns to Amen we often read that he is "hidden to his children, "and "hidden to gods and men," and it has been stated that these expressions only refer to the "hiding," i.e., "setting" of the sun each evening, and that they are only to be understood in a physical sense, and to mean nothing more than the disappearance of the god Amen from the sight of men at the close of day. Now, not only is the god himself said to be "hidden," but his name also is "hidden," and his form, or similitude, is said to be "unknown;" these statements show that "hidden," when applied to Amen, the great god, has reference to something more than the "sun which has disappeared below the horizon," and that it indicates the god who cannot be seen with the mortal eyes, and who is invisible, as well as inscrutable, to gods as well as men. In the times approaching the Ptolemaic period the name Amen appears to have been connected with the root men, "to abide, to be permanent;" and one of the attributes which were applied to him was that of eternal. Amen is represented in five forms: 1. As a man, when he is seen seated on a throne, and holding in one hand the scepter, and in the other the symbol of "life." In this form he is one of the nine deities who compose the company of the gods of Amen-Ra, the other eight being Ament, Nu, Nut, Hehui, Hehet, Kekui, Keket, and Hathor. 2. As a man with the head of a frog, whilst his female counterpart Ament has the head of a uraeus. 3. As a man with the head of a uraeus, whilst his female counterpart has the head of a cat. 4. As an ape. 5. As a lion couching upon a pedestal.
worship of Amen-Ra spread through all the country both of the north and south of Thebes, and the monuments prove that it made its way into all the dominions of Egypt in Syria, and the Nubia, and in the Oases. In the Upper Egypt its centers were Thebes, Herakeopolis Magna ; in Lower Egypt they were Memphis, Sais, Xois, Metelis, Heliopolis, Babylon, Mendes, Thmuis, Diospolis, Butus, and the Island of Khemmis ; in the Libyan desert the Oases of Kenemet, {i.e., Farafra, and the great Oasis of Jupiter Ammon ; in Nubia, Wadi Sabua, Abu Simbel, Napata, and Meroe ; and in Syria at several places which were called Diospolis The worship of Amen-Ra was introduced into Nubia by its Egyptian conquerors early in the XIIth Dynasty,
Amen is made the universe. It is,however, important to note that he is not in any way identified with Osiris
Slightly more informative video on history, reducted to labeling Montu only as a God of War.
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End of quotes from webpages
As I read a bit into these mysterious older Gods, I see the lessor adjuncts, the female companions of the Gods as representing both their consorts and companions, in the dual nature of procreation and nutturing assistant.
My study on the Egyptian pantheon has just begun. I read small bits about various Egyptian sects, and saw a documentary bit about Nefertiti and her son, Tutankhamun. They were outcasts and rebels from the major male-dominated Priest classes. Nefertiti had to flee from the major capital and re-instatae the ancient citadel of Thebes where the cult of Amen-Ra was reinstated. Theories of King Tut's assassination are augmented by MMR or other various analyses of the mumified remains of Tut. A blow to the head is the dominant theory of his premature death at the hands of a possible assassin, so the hypothesis goes.
If this situation were of a modern variety, conspiracy theories would abound. A powerful female ruler destined to have her heir murdered and the reinstatement of the male-dominated Priest-ruler class, along with the dessicration of her rebuilt dominion city.
More reseach has yet to be done on my part in this saga.
Amun Ra was an expression of monotheism when pantheons were big biz in major ancient temples of commercial theology. A solar deity. A central point of Being of all beings, independent of others and of all. Self-employed and independent could be modern terms. However, as a deity of all -encompassing independence, why is this not a dualistic male-female diety?
From above video: "Amun as advocate for the poor. A God of the oppressed underdog. By aiding those who travelled in his name, he became the protector of the road. HE UPHELD MA'AT, THE GOD OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND GOODNESS....AMUN Ra denotes both the revealed and it's counterpart, the 'hidden or obscure One'." The esoteric and exoteric rules of existence. No universal source created Amen/Amun Ra. Originating outside of creation and the universe, Beholden to none, symbolizing the vacant force of AIR, yet supporting all or bedeveling whomever miscreant.
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