R. A. Orekhov

Ptakh i printsipy egipetskogo zemlepol'zovaniia: nekotorye utochneniia k memfisskomu ritualu koronatsii [Ptah and principles of land use in Egypt. Some considerations on the Memphite coronation rite]

The article discusses reasons of including Ptah in the Memphite coronation rite; in particular, this god was believed to provide a new ruler with his royal status and to distribute lands (Shabaka Stone, British Museum, inv. No. 498). As the author assumes, the god obtained these credentials at the time of Ramessides. The rite itself comes from Heliopolis tradition, according to which ascending the throne a king received from gods the mekes case with a document confirming the fact that Hor had inherited all lands of Egypt. Later, Ptah displaced Heliopolis deities in this role. Probably, it was caused by changing of enviromental conditions. By the early New Kingdom the Nile’s bed significantly shifted eastwards. As a result, a large area ceased to be flooded. Memphis started to enlarge its territory, and economic base of Ptah’s cult strengthened. These facts had a reflection in the text of the Shabaka Stone, where Ptah is called the king of gods and landlord of Egypt.

Keywords:
Ptah, Memphis, coronation, Geb’s heritage, Shabaka Stone.

Original language — Russian.

DOI: 10.24412/2686-9276-2020-00009.

Referring: Orekhov R. A. Ptah and principles of land use in Egypt. Some considerations on the Memphite coronation rite [in Russian] // Egypt and neighbouring countries 3 (2020): 96–102. DOI: 10.24412/2686-9276-2020-00009.

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