Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Tekenu


The Tekenu is one of the funerary procession elements. It appeared since the OLD KINGDOM in tomb representations in many positions:
  • A completely wrapped container so that any resemblance to a human figure is not apparent.

  • A container with a human face just showing through a shroud and sitting upon a sledge.



  • a human shape in a prone position on a sledge without shroud in a fetal position of a typical pre-dynastic burial.

  • a human shape on a couch with only his head protrudes from a cocoon-like shroud

The Tekenu has not been completely explained but many conceptions discussed what the Tekenu is :

  • An animal leathered container which contains the spare body parts that were left over during the mummification.
  • A representation of the deceased as an embryo in a womb preparing to be reborn as a denotion for the resurrection.

  • A shape for the deceased's ( KA ) and may be this role was played by the ( SEM ) priest so as to denote the resurrection when the priest enters the tomb and rise up from his crouching posture.

  • A symbolic representaion of human sacrifice but this conception proved to be wrong as there's no trace for human sacrifice in the Ancient Egyptian civilization.

References

http://www.egyptology.com/reeder/enigma/tekenu1.html

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You should do more research into this. It is also refered to as a holy figure in a trance like state into the land of the dead. Later depicted in a transformed state or Shem.