domingo, 8 de noviembre de 2015

The Mastaba (G2196) of Iasen

The Mastaba (G2196) of Iasen





Iasen in the papyrus swamp : the "seshesh uadj" scene (sSS wAD, according to MDC)
From the Old Kingdom, can be found five types of scenes which happen in the marshes: boating for pleasure, hunting the waterfowl, fishing with a harpoon, hunting the hippopotamus (a rare scene) and an activity named "seshesh wadj" ("pulling papyrus"), which is the one that is found here, with Iasen. It represents a much rarer representation in the tombs of individuals than those of hunting and ...fishing with a harpoon. It represents the combination of a character (man or woman) standing on a papyrus skiff which is floating on a band of water located in a thicket of papyrus. The undergrowth, which is extremely high and would actually surround him, forms the background of the scene.
To the right of the scene (see cm-51), is a column of text which describes it: "Pulling papyrus for Hathor in the marshes, by the tenant-farmer, Iasen".
The translation of the first two words remains in debate, possibly being: to sort out, to pull, to extract or to crumple the papyrus. Numerous interpretations have been proposed.
Hartwig Altenmüller says in his article, that we see here the master of the tomb at the time of him throwing a stem of papyrus, which he would have pulled from those around him. It would be about a representation of a link with the myth of Osiris and Seth (which already exists in the texts of pyramids). The deceased is linked with Horus; raised (brought up) by his mother Isis in the swamps of Khemis, in the Delta, he must prove his strength before leaving it to triumph over his enemies.
Alexandra Wood, in his review article of 2011, rather tends to consider that it represents a ceremony or a Hathoric ritual (but not reserved to the priests of Hathor), which would be confirmed in the case of Iasen by the inscription which accompanies the scene. The rustling of the papyrus would produce an identical rattle sound to that of the naos-shaped sistrum, the sacred instrument which was closely linked to the cow-goddess Hathor, even in the Old Kingdom. This noise was supposed to attract the goddess out of the marsh so that she can take him into her womb and re-give birth to the deceased. The ritual may have formed part of a pilgrimage to several sites in the Delta. It could be followed by a visit by the deceased to his tomb at the time of the introduction of some items of the funeral equipment and thus may represent a unique event in his life.

The Mastaba (G2196) of Iasen
osirisnet.net

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