What objects are Cleopatra VII and Caesarion holding in the relief at temple of Hathor, Dendera? Also what is the meaning of the objects?
Posted Feb 11, 2020, 3:44 PM UTC
3611
I feel great about these explanations
4
A pipe and a bong
-5
Posted Feb 11, 2020, 3:44 PM UTC
I feel great about these explanations
A pipe and a bong
Cleopatra's Right hand is holding a Sistrum (a musical instrument) In her Left hand she holds a lotus (the oblong thing hanging down is a representation of the 'scent cone' of the Lotus.
I think I knew at one time, but have forgotten what Cesarion is holding, but I do know it was an offering to Hathor.
If anyone tries to palm off some hooey about the Dendera "Lightbulb" tell them to take a hike. -That image represents a Lotus and the scent emanating from it. Just as in the above representation.
It's an incense burner. The thing in his left hand is the incense burner itself - shaped like a wand with a hand at the end, holding a cup that would contain the burning coals, more or less like this one. His right hand is tossing a pellet of incense resin onto the coals. The series of dots between his hand and the cup of coals is supposed to represent the incense pellet "in motion" to the burning coals. It's actually a pretty neat example of Egyptian representation - the physical act of placing the incense on the burner was the important part of the offering, and what they sought to preserve.
Yes. -Thank you.
Thanks!
Thank you!
Are you sure about the lotus? It looks more like the counterweight (menat) of a necklace to me. Both objects (and especially in combination) are associated with Hathor (e.g., in p. Westcar, the seven Hathors give Reuserre their menats and sistra).
That might be true.
The Lotus came to mind because it a theme associated with that Temple and the depiction is consistent with other depictions.
You would think it would be fairly easy to scrape up a scholarly article on just what is being shown there, but I could not find anything specific in the few minutes I tried.
If you find additional info, please post it. I'm interested to hear more.
I'm not specifically aware of any articles on the topic, off the top of my head. You can see a depiction of women holding sistra and taking off their necklaces with the menat attached in the tomb of Senbi at Meir (Blackman, Meir vol I, pls 2-3, reproduced in Parkinson, Voice from Ancient Egypt, pp. 78-9). Those are the only references I can think of right now, other than part of p. Westcar, and the ritual at the end of Sinuhe. Richard Parkinson goes into a bit more detail on that in his fantastic inaugural lecture.
I'm afraid that's all I've got right now!
It looks like you were right about the Menat and Aegis in the Hathor Temple relief.
I'd have interpreted that as the depiction of a 'lotus' forever, -but will never look at it the same again. Thanks for the disambiguation!
Thanks for the lecture series link too!