| Mandulis | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
God of the Sun and Sky | ||||||
 An image of Mandulis from the Temple of Kalabsha in Nubia | ||||||
| Name inhieroglyphs |
| |||||
| Venerated in | Nubian mythology | |||||
| Animals | Falcon | |||||
| Symbol | Sun, Crown of Ram Horns, Plumes | |||||
| Region | Lower Nubia | |||||
| Temple | Temple of Kalabsha | |||||
| Equivalents | ||||||
| Egyptian | Horus | |||||
Mandulis (alsoMerul andMelul) was agod of ancientNubia also worshipped inEgypt. The name Mandulis (Μανδουλις) is theGreek form of Merul or Melul, a non-Egyptian name. The centre of his cult was theTemple of Kalabsha atTalmis, but he also had a temple dedicated to him atAjuala.[1]
The worship of Mandulis was unknown to Egypt under the nativePharaohs, the Temple of Kalabsha being constructed under thePtolemies (305 to 30 BC). The temple was popular during theRoman period. It was expanded under the emperorsAugustus (27 BC–AD 14) andVespasian (AD 69–79). A series of dated inscriptions can be found in the temple from the reign of Vespasian down toAD 248 or 249. In one of these he is identified as the "Sun, the all-seeing master, king of all, all-powerfulAion."[2]
Besides his own temples at Kalabsha and Ajuala, Mandulis was worshiped in theTemple of Petesi and Pihor at Dendur and atPhilae. An inscription at Dendur identifies him as the "great god, lord of Talmis", clearly indicating the centre of his cult. At Philae, he is depicted in humanoid form on a wall next tothe last known hieroglyphic inscription, which was dedicated to him inAD 394.[1]
Mandulis was often depicted wearing theHemhem crown. He was sometimes shown in the form of a falcon but with a human head.[3]
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