The ‘rejuvenating waters’ (mw-rnp) of the Nile inundation in hydrological processions of Ptolemaic and Roman temples
2022
Abstrakt
The article takes a closer look at a specific feature of the Nile, and more in particular an aspect of its inundation known to the ancient Egyptians priests as mw-rnp ("rejuvenating, fresh water"). This facet of the inundation occurs 17 times among the gifts brought by offering bearers in hydrological processions in the Horus temple of Edfu, the Hathor temple of Dendara and the Khnum temple of Esna.
The study of the inscriptions accompanying this specific personification of the Nile inundation indicates the existence of patterns in the distribution of these texts not only within a single temple, but also between temples over time and space. Many of the inscriptions also show the use of stylistic literary devices.