| Montu | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Montu is usually depicted as a falcon-headed man, adorned with two tall plumes on asun disk. | ||||
| Name inhieroglyphs |
| |||
| Major cult center | Hermonthis,Thebes,Medamud,El-Tod | |||
| Consort | Raet-Tawy,Tjenenyet,Iunit, orSatet | |||
Montu was afalcon-god ofwar in theancient Egyptian religion, an embodiment of the conquering vitality of thepharaoh.[1] He was particularly worshipped inUpper Egypt and in the district ofThebes.[2]
Montu's name, shown inEgyptian hieroglyphs to the right, is technically transcribed asmntw (meaning "Nomad"[3][4]). Because of the difficulty in transcribing Egyptian vowels, it is often realized asMont,Monthu,Montju,Ment orMenthu.[3]
A very ancient god, Montu was originally a manifestation of the scorching effect ofRa, the sun – and as such often appeared under the epithetMontu-Ra. The destructiveness of this characteristic led to him gaining characteristics of a warrior, and eventually becoming a widely revered war-god. The Egyptians thought that Montu would attack the enemies ofMaat (that is, of thetruth, of the cosmic order) while inspiring, at the same time, glorious warlike exploits.[5] It is possible that Montu-Ra andAtum-Ra symbolized the two kingships, respectively, ofUpper and Lower Egypt.[6] When linked withHorus, Montu's epithet was "Horus of the Strong Arm".[7]
Because of the association of ragingbulls with strength and war, the Egyptians also believed that Montu manifested himself as a white, black-snouted bull namedBuchis (hellenization of the originalBakha: a living bull revered inArmant) — to the point that, in theLate Period (7th-4th centuries BC), Montu was depicted with a bull's head too.[2] This special sacred bull had dozens of servants and wore precious crowns and bibs.[6]
InEgyptian art, Montu was depicted as afalcon-headed or bull-headed man, with his head surmounted by the solar disk (because of his conceptual link with Ra[2]) with either a double or singularuraeus,[8][9] 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 acurved sword, a spear, bow and arrows, or knives: such military iconography was widespread in theNew Kingdom (16th-11th centuries BC).[3]
Montu had several consorts, including the little-known Theban goddessesTjenenyet[10] andIunit,[11] and a female form of Ra,Raet-Tawy.[7] He was also revered as one of the patrons of the city ofThebes and its fortresses. The sovereigns of the11th Dynasty (c. 2134–1991 BC) chose Montu as a protective and dynastic deity, inserting references to him in their own names. For example, four pharaohs of the 11th Dynasty were calledMentuhotep, which means "Montu (Mentu) is satisfied":
TheGreeks associated Montu with their god of warAres – although that did not prevent his assimilation toApollo, probably due to the solar radiance that distinguished him.[3][7]
The cult of this military god enjoyed great prestige under the pharaohs of the 11th Dynasty,[1] whose expansionism and military successes led, around 2055 BC, to the reunification of Egypt, the end of a period of chaos known today as theFirst Intermediate Period, and a new era of greatness for the country. This part of Egyptian history, known as theMiddle Kingdom (c. 2055–1650 BC),[12] was a period in which Montu assumed the role of supreme god — before then gradually being surpassed by the other Theban godAmun, destined to become the most important deity of the Egyptian pantheon.[2]
From the 11th Dynasty onward, Montu was considered the symbol of the pharaohs as rulers, conquerors and winners, as well as their inspirer on the battlefield. The Egyptian armies were surmounted by the insignia of the "four Montu" (Montu of Thebes, ofArmant, ofMedamud, and ofEl-Tod: the main cult centers of the god), all represented while trampling and piercing enemies with a spear in a classic pugnacious pose.[5] A ceremonial battle ax, belonging to the funeral kit of QueenAhhotep II,Great Royal Wife of the warlike pharaoh Kamose (c. 1555–1550 BC), who lived between the17th and18th Dynasty, represents Montu as a proud wingedgriffin: an iconography clearly influenced by the sameSyriac origin which inspiredMinoan art.[13]
Egypt's greatest general-kings called themselves "Mighty Bull", "Son Of Montu", "Montu Is with His Strong/Right Arm" (Montuherkhepeshef: which was also the given name of ason ofRamesses II, ofone ofRamesses III andone ofRamesses IX).Thutmose III (c. 1479—1425 BC), "theNapoleon of Egypt",[14] was described in ancient times as a "Valiant Montu on the Battlefield".[3] An inscription from his sonAmenhotep II (1427–1401 BC) recalls that the eighteen-year-old pharaoh was able to shoot arrows throughcopper targets while driving awar chariot, commenting that he had the skill and strength of Montu.[6] The latter's grandson,Amenhotep III the Magnificent (c.1388–1350 BC), called himself "Montu of the Rulers" in spite of his own peaceful reign.[15] Inthe narrative of theBattle of Kadesh (c. 1274 BC),Ramesses II the Great — who proudly called himself "Montu of theTwo Lands"[3] — was said to have seen the enemy and "raged at them like Montu, Lord of Thebes".[16]
[...] his majesty passed thefortress of Tjaru, like Montu when he goes forth. Every country trembled before him, fear was in their hearts [...] The goodly watch inlife, prosperity and health, in the tent of his majesty, was on the highland south of Kadesh. When his majesty appeared like the rising of Re, he assumed the adornments of his father, Montu. [...]
The Temple complex of Montu inMedamud, the ancient Medu, less than five kilometers north-east of today'sLuxor,[18] was built by the great PharaohSenusret III (c. 1878–1839 BC) of the12th Dynasty, probably on a pre-existing sacred site of theOld Kingdom. The temple courtyard was used as a dwelling for the livingBuchis bull, revered as an incarnation of Montu.[6] The main entrance was to the north-east, while asacred lake was probably on the west side of the sanctuary. The building consisted of two distinct adjoining sections, perhaps a temple to the north and a temple to the south (houses of the priests). It was built in raw bricks, while the innermostcella of the deity was built of carved stone. The templar complex of Medamud underwent important restorations and renovations during theNew Kingdom, and in thePtolemaic andRoman period.[13]
_-_Views_in_Egypt_and_Nubia_-_n._357_-_The_Temple_of_Erment.jpg)
AtArmant, the ancient Iuni, there was an impressive Temple of Montu at least since the 11th Dynasty, which may have been native of Armant. King Mentuhotep II is its first known builder, but the original complex was enlarged and embellished during the 12th Dynasty, the less well-known13th Dynasty (c. 1803–1649 BC), and later in the New Kingdom (especially under KingThutmose III).[19]Ramesses II (1279–1213 BC) and his sonMerneptah (1213–1203 BC) of the19th Dynasty added colossi and statues.[19] It was dismantled, except for apylon, in the Late Period (7th/4th century BC) — but a new temple was begun by KingNectanebo II (360–342 BC), the last native pharaoh of Egypt, and continued by thePtolemies. In the 1st century BC,Cleopatra VII (51–30 BC) built amammisi and a sacred lake there in honour of her son, the very youngPtolemy XV Caesarion.[20] The building remained visible until 1861, when it was demolished to reuse its material in the construction of a sugar factory; however,etchings, prints and previous studies (for example the NapoleonicDescription de l'Égypte) show its appearance. Only the remains of the pylon of Thutmose III are still visible — in addition to the ruins of two entrances, one of which was built under the 2nd century ADRoman emperor/PharaohAntoninus Pius. In the large Armant complex, moreover, there was theBucheum, necropolis of theBuchis sacred bulls. The first burial of a Buchis in this special necropolis dates back to the reign of Nectanebo II (c. 340 BC), while the final one took place at the time of the Emperor/PharaohDiocletian (c. 300 AD).[13]
In the greatKarnak Temple Complex, north of the monumentalTemple of Amun, KingAmenhotep III built asacred enclosure to Montu.[2][13] Another temple had been dedicated to him at the little-known fortress ofUronarti (near theSecond Cataract of the Nile, specifically to the south of it) during the Middle Kingdom.
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montu nomad.
