Chapter: 2
Chapter: 2
The Iconography of god Ptah:
The Iconography of god Ptah:
The repr
The representation of god Ptah did not change so much along the ancieesentation of god Ptah did not change so much along the ancientnt history
history. . The rst representation for god Ptah came from The rst representation for god Ptah came from a bowl froma bowl from T
Tarkhan which dates back to the 1arkhan which dates back to the 1stst dynasty. dynasty.11 Ptah was always depicted in Ptah was always depicted in a human form as a wrapped mummy.
a human form as a wrapped mummy.22
God Ptah was
God Ptah was reprrepresented wearing a tight-tting esented wearing a tight-tting garment which from thegarment which from the 1
1stst look we think look we think he is mummied.he is mummied.33
rom the 1
rom the 1stst look we can see his smooth head because of wearing a tight- look we can see his smooth head because of wearing a tight-tting skull cap.
tting skull cap. !is ears and arms ar!is ears and arms are protruding fre protruding from the tight garmeom the tight garment.nt.""
#ee Pl. $ #ee Pl. $
God Ptah was always represented in a standing position
God Ptah was always represented in a standing position on a pedestal inon a pedestal in an open
an open shrine holding a shrine holding a composite sceptercomposite scepter..$$
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1
1 &ilkin&ilkinson' (. !son' (. !.' 2))3' The *omplete Gods and Go.' 2))3' The *omplete Gods and Goddesses of +ncienddesses of +ncient ,gypt't ,gypt' *airo' 12$.
*airo' 12$. 2
2 urker' .' 1/0)' The Gods urker' .' 1/0)' The Gods and #ymbols of +ncient ,gypt' ew and #ymbols of +ncient ,gypt' ew ork' /%.ork' /%. 3
3 (emler' P(emler' P.' 2)1)' ,gyptian yt.' 2)1)' ,gyptian ythology + to ' ew hology + to ' ew ork' 1$"-1$$.ork' 1$"-1$$. "
" !art' G.' 2))$' The (!art' G.' 2))$' The (utledge 4ictionarutledge 4ictionary of ,gyptian Gods and Goy of ,gyptian Gods and Goddesses' ewddesses' ew
ork' 120-131.ork' 120-131. $
$ 4uk' 5. 64uk' 5. 6.' Ptah' in (.' Ptah' in (edford' 4. 7. 8ed9' 2))1' :;ford ,ncyclopedia of +ncientedford' 4. 7. 8ed9' 2))1' :;ford ,ncyclopedia of +ncient ,gypt 6ol. <<<' :;ford' ="-=%.
,gypt 6ol. <<<' :;ford' ="-=%.
% %
The composite scepter which god Ptah held consisted of >&aas? sign of dominion and the >4@ed? sign of stability. #ometimes he was represented holding the royal insignia the crook and the Aail with the >+nkh? sign of life.%
The face of god Ptah was represented with a wedge-shaped beard' but from the iddle Bingdom onwards he was represented with a straight beard.=
#ee Pl. =
!e was also represented wearing a broad collar that has a counterpoise hanging from the base of his neck which is known as the >enat collar?.0 God Ptah was represented in a Cery diDerent way as he was represented in a dwarf form with a deformation in his legs' hands' and hips. !e also had a large head with a lock of hair which is a sign of youth. <n this
representation he acted as a protector against some animals and many eCils./
% &alterson' 7.' 1//%' Gods of +ncient ,gypt' !ong Bong' 1%3.
= !art' G.' 2))$' The (utledge 4ictionary of ,gyptian Gods and Goddesses' ew ork' 120-131.' see also &ilkinson' (. !.' 2))3' The *omplete Gods and
Goddesses of +ncient ,gypt' *airo' 12$. 0 &alterson' 7.' opcit. ' 1%=.
/ Goodenough' #.' 1//=' ,gyptian ythology' ew ork' 01-02 . =
!erodotus said that he saw statues for god Ptah taking the shape of dwarf at the temple of god Ptah at emphis.1)
1) &ilkinson' (. !.' 2))3' The *omplete Gods and Goddesses of +ncient ,gypt' *airo' 12%.
The temples of god Ptah:
<t is known that god Ptah was worshiped in seCeral places beside his cult center at emphis as Bing (amesses << of the ew Bingdom built many temples for him in ubia' +bu #imbel' Gerf !ussein and ,l-4err.
1. Temple of Ptah at Memphis:
(emains of this temple can be found. #cholars suggested that the siEe of this temple was may be larger than the temple of +mun-(e at ,l-Barnak.11
The temple was known as >!wt-Ba-Ptah? which means the palace of the ka of Ptah. 4uring the late times this name was said as >!i-Bu-Ptah?' but during Greeks time it was called >+i-gy-ptos? from which the name ,gypt came from.12 #ee Pl. 0
2. The temple of Mern-Ptah :
4uring the reign of ern-Ptah of the ew Bingdom he gaCe attention to god Ptah soF he ordered to build a temple for god Ptah at the site of Bom ,l-ala ne;t to his palace.13 #ee Pl. /
3. The temple of Ptah at Abydos:
+ small temple of ne limestone dedicated to god Ptah was started with king #eti < and completed by his son king (amesses <<. <n side this temple there are seCen chapels' one of these chapels dedicated to god Ptah and inside this chapel there is a representation for a
11 4uk' 5. 6.' Ptah' in (edford' 4. 7. 8ed9' 2))1' :;ford ,ncyclopedia of +ncient ,gypt 6ol. <<<' :;ford' ="-=%.
12 &alterson' 7.' 1//%' Gods of +ncient ,gypt' !ong Bong' 1%=.
13 &ilkinson' (. !.' 2)))' The *omplete Temples of +ncient ,gypt' ew ork' 11$.
false door while in the northern side of the temple there is the cult chapel of the composite deity Ptah-#okar-efertem.1"
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1" <bid.' 1"%-1"0.
. The temple of Ptah at !l-"arna# Temple:
<n ,l-Barnak temple there is a temple on the northern side of +munHs great temple which dedicated to god Ptah. The main a;e to this
temple is west-east. <n the inner part of this temple was built by king Tuthmosis <<< and e;panded and restored by Bing #hbaka and seCeral
Ptolemaic kings. The temple consists of Ce gate ways with a representation of kingly gures wearing the red and the white crowns. This gate ways leads to a hall with Aower-capital columns placed in front of three chapels two of them dedicated to god Ptah and the third one dedicated to goddesses !athor. The central chapel contains a headless statue for god Ptah and the chapel which was dedicated to goddesses !athor contains statues for the consort of god Ptah goddesses #ekhmet.1$ #ee Pl. 11
$. The temple of Ab% &imbel:
<t is one of the famous temples in ,gypt because of being rescued by dismantling and reconstructing again in a higher place. <n the
innermost sanctuary there are four statues one for +mun-(e' one for (amesses <<' one for (e-!orakhty and the last one for god Ptah.1% #ee
Pl. 12
1$ <bid.' 1%3.
1% &alterson' 7.' 1//%' Gods of +ncient ,gypt' !ong Bong' 1%=. 11
