Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Tourist Guidance - Faculty of Tourism and Hotels - Helwan University
2
faculty of tourism and hotels, Suez Canal University
3
Tourism Guidance Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Suez Canal University
Abstract
Monthu originated in the form of local solar god in Upper Egypt, at Armant, Hermonthis, the City of the Sun, from as early as the Eleventh Dynasty, he was regarded at that time and thereafter with a title as "the Lord of Theban Nome" mnTw nb wAst The Egyptologist G. Wiedemann., Believed that the name of Monthu, related to that of Amun, with the addition of the final Tw. Early syncretistic forms are 'Monthu- Horus' . Later He incorporated the name of the sun-god Re, and became far more often, ’Monthu-Re The name refers to the inherent solar aspect of Monthu as, composite sun deity Monthu-Re. He was further found as Monthu-Reharacht e, In general he was regarded as a universal solar god. The name of Monthu is attested by different variants as shown elsewhere. The cult of Monthu mnTw, declined during the Third Intermediate Period, after the decline of Thebes. Then it rose to importance again from the Twenty-fifth Dynasty onwards, until the Graeco-Roman Period. The warship of Monthu through the Late Period onwards was mainly presented to the region of Thebes. The main cult centres of Monthu were all within the Theban region and included the four important temple sites. The Main Cult Centers of Monthu were Armant, southwest of modem Luxor on the western bank of the Nile, Medamud, nourtheast of Luxor-inland from the eastern bank, El-Tod, southwest of Luxor on the eastern bank and Karnak, north-northeast of Luxor, adjacent to the northern side of the great temple of Amun. Monthu was also represented on the walls of many temples not dedicated to the cult of Monthu that were built during the late Period and the Graeco_Roman era. Good examples are the temple of Hibis in the Kharga Oasis, dedicated to the Theban triad (Amun, Mut, and Khonsu). Armant was one of the most important places of the worship of Monthu with his consorts (Raettawy-Tannyt-Iwnyt). Monthu originated in Armant, where his primordial sanctuary was located. The modern Armant was known in the ancient Egyptian texts as Iwny. The Ptolemaic Kings and Roman emperors supported the cult of Monthu. The Greeks identified several Egyptian gods with one of their gods. For instance, Monthu was called 'Apollo' by the Greeks, and his temple the Apolloneion. Thus, the religious and cultic life of Thebes continued during the Graeco-Roman era , but it was no longer the political and administrative centre of the south. Monthu was regarded as a universal solar god, with the punitive aspect continuing until the Graeco-Roman era.
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