Mark Heaton Wrote:

> So I wish I was more sure this was the original
> name rather than an Egyptian legend about the
> secret chambers of Thoth, the moon god, such that
> Horizon became an appropriate name influenced by
> context.

My understanding is that the word Akh meant something along the lines of a soul (or spirit) that has succeeded in becoming "reborn" into an immortal state of being - it has become "Akhified", if you will. The Akhet was then understood as being the boundary point ("horizon") at which this transition could take place. The deceased King needed to rise up and gain access across the Akhet in order to achieve this state of grace. (See J. P. Allen's definition of these terms in his glossary, p. 425)

I don't know at precisely what point the "Akhet of Khufu" was first translated as "the Horizon of Khufu", but Hassan's use of the word "splendor" I believe stems from the sense of this "state of grace" / "spiritualized" concept. My sense is that the translation of "Akh" as "spirit", and "Akhet" as "Horizon", goes well back to the early days of decipherment. I don't know this for sure, but I would think so. If anyone decides to research this, please let me know what you find.






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2019 09:18AM by L Cooper.