In MK and NK inscriptions the cartouche, an elongated shen 'ring' reflects the phrase 'all that the sun disk circles ('shen') (IIRC, from Quirke)


and of course the sign for 'sun' (N5), was a circle, the Duat (N15), a circle with a star inside. Offering slabs in sun temples had a large circular stone in the middle........


So you have Friedman's paper as well.


Deep underground beneath the Dyn 3, step pyramid of Netjerikhet, are three panels showing Netjerikhet running or standing in various shrines. On the middle panel Netjerikhet is shown striding or running, carrying the flail and the mks, a container holding the imit-pr document (lit. 'that which is in the house' or that which constitutes the house'. In the royal realm, it appears to entitle the king to claim over the property he circuits - the Two Lands - Egypt. In front of the king is the 'White Shrine / Palace' (aH-HD) of the Great Ones (wrw)


On either side of the king at the bottom of the panel, are a set of three semi circular territorial stone-markers (Dnbw) - one set in the north and the other in the south. Behind the king are two sky boundary markers in the form of two halves of the 'sky' sign N1 (mdnb) that stands for the limits of the sky. The king in the ritual Hb-sd run, goes around these boundary markers holding the title deed, legitimizing his rule of the terrestrial and celestial realms.


The king traveled from north to south and south to north when he visited the sacred sites in Upper and Lower Egypt - the 'Two Lands' he ruled over, and in his sed-festival, he went around the semi circular boundary stones in the north and south of his sed-festival court.

The sun crossed the sky daily from east to west, and from north to south and from south to north in the yearly solar cycle.


From the pyramids of Unis and Teti (Sethe Vol 1: 212; §406c):"....for both skies go around (in service) for him and the two shores* serve him. Unis is the most controlling power, who controls the controlling powers; Unis is the sacred image who is most sacred of sacred images.........Unis is the god who is senior to the senior ones, for thousands serve him and hundreds present offering to him; for he has been given title as the greatest controlling power by Orion (sAH), the gods' father; for Unis has reappeared in the sky and is crowned as lord of the Akhet. W 180b (T 275b)


Sah is the 'father of the gods', and its Sah who gives the title deed to the king legitimizing his rule in the celestial realm. Netjerikhet is seen holding the title deed that legitimizes his rule over the Two Lands and the Two Skies - the north and south skies.

This title deed is perhaps authorized by his divine ancestors symbolized by the baboon sitting in the 'White Shrine / Palace of the Great Ones'. The baboon is wearing a cross that can mean 'great' (wr). The 'great ones' inside the shrine / palace, is simply written with three swallows (wrw).


"there is no one who bars him from the White Palace of the great ones at the Beaten Path of Stars (msqt sHdw) - for look, Unis has reached the sky's height." W 172.


In the PTs, swallows are the Imperishable Stars, the followers of Osiris, who had an identity of the one in Sah.


I could go on, but this is digressing from the controversial circle

CT




Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2007 04:26PM by Chris Tedder.