God's Wife, God's Servant The God's Wife of Amun (ca.740&8211525 BC) [Paperback]

Mariam F. Ayad explores how five women were elevated to a position of supreme religious authority. Drawing on a variety of textual, iconographic, and archaeological evidence, and containing fifty-one black and white and colour illustrations, the volume discusses this often neglected subject, placing the women within the broader context of the politically volatile, turbulent seventh and eighth centuries BCE.

Part 1: The Historical Setting  The Gods Wife: Historical Development and Associated Titles.  The Mythic Conception I: Atum and the Heliopolitan Creation Myth.  The Gods Wife Prior to the New Kingdom.  The Gods Wife During the New Kingdom.  The Mythic Conception II: The Kings Divine Conception.  Egypt at the End of the New Kingdom.  Egypt during the Libyan Period.  The Nubians in Egypt.  The Libyan and Nubian Gods Wives of Amun.  Egypt under Saite Rule.  Nitocris  Ankhnesneferibre, The Last Gods Wife of Amun.  Amun, Mut, and the Throne Names of the Gods Wives  Part 2: Rites and Rituals  Entertaining the Gods.  Playing Music: Shaking the Sistrum.  The Sistrum, the Menat-necklace and Objects Sacred to Hathor.  Provisioning the Gods: Offering to the Gods.  Wine.  Food.  Cool Water/ Incense.  A Boon, Which the King Gives .  Maat.  Building Houses for the Gods/ Dedicating Shrines.  Partnering with the King (I): Symmetrically Opposed Scenes.  In Providing for the Gods.  Rewarded by the Gods.  Partnering with the King (II): For God, King, and Country .  In Protecting the Gods  Rites of Protection at the Cenotaph.  Burning Fans .  Rites at Kom Djeme .  Rejuvenating thlóÇ