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Montu was a falcon-god of war in the ancient Egyptian religion, an embodiment of the conquering vitality of the pharaoh.Hart, George, ''A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses'', Routledge, 1986, . p. 126. He was particularly worshipped in Upper Egypt and in the district of Thebes, Egypt, Thebes.Rachet, Guy (1994). ''Dizionario della civiltà egizia''. Rome: Gremese Editore. . p. 208.
In Art of ancient Egypt, Egyptian art, Montu was depicted as a falcon-headed or bull-headed man, with his head surmounted by the solar disk (because of his conceptual link with Ra) with either a double or singular uraeus, and two feathers. The falcon was a symbol of the sky and the bull was a symbol of strength and war. He could also wield various weapons, such as a Khopesh, curved sword, a spear, bow and arrows, or knives: such military iconography was widespread in the New Kingdom of Egypt, New Kingdom (16th-11th centuries BC).
Montu had several consorts, including the little-known Theban goddesses Tjenenyet and Iunit, and a female form of Ra, Raet-Tawy.Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003). ''The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt''. Thames & Hudson. pp. 203–4. He was also revered as one of the patrons of the city of Thebes, Egypt, Thebes and its fortresses. The sovereigns of the 11th dynasty, 11th Dynasty (c. 2134–1991 BC) chose Montu as a protective and dynastic deity, inserting references to him in their own names. For example, four pharaohs of the 11th Dynasty were called ''Mentuhotep'', which means "Montu (Mentu) is satisfied":
* Mentuhotep I (c. 2135 BC) — maybe a fictional figure;
* Mentuhotep II, Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (c. 2061–2010 BC);
* Mentuhotep III, Sankhkare Mentuhotep III (c. 2010–1998 BC);
* Mentuhotep IV, Nebtawyre Mentuhotep IV (c. 1998–1991 BC).
The Ancient Greece, Greeks associated Montu with their god of war Ares – although that did not prevent his assimilation to Apollo, probably due to the solar radiance that distinguished him.
From the 11th Dynasty onward, Montu was considered the symbol of the pharaohs as rulers, conquerors and winners, as well as their inspirer on the battlefield. The Egyptian armies were surmounted by the insignia of the "four Montu" (Montu of Thebes, of Armant, Egypt, Armant, of Medamud, and of El-Tod: the main cult centers of the god), all represented while trampling and piercing enemies with a spear in a classic pugnacious pose. A ceremonial battle ax, belonging to the funeral kit of Queen Ahhotep II, Great Royal Wife of the warlike pharaoh Kamose (c. 1555–1550 BC), who lived between the Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt, 17th and Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, 18th Dynasty, represents Montu as a proud winged griffin: an iconography clearly influenced by the same History of Syria, Syriac origin which inspired Minoan art.Hart 1986, p. 127.
Egypt's greatest general-kings called themselves "Mighty Bull", "Son Of Montu", "Montu Is with His Strong/Right Arm" (''Montuherkhepeshef'': which was also the given name of a List of children of Ramesses II, son of Ramesses II, of Montuherkhopshef (son of Ramesses III), one of Ramesses III and Mentuherkhepeshef (son of Ramesses IX), one of Ramesses IX). Thutmose III (c. 1479—1425 BC), "the Napoleon of Egypt", was described in ancient times as a "Valiant Montu on the Battlefield". An inscription from his son Amenhotep II (1427–1401 BC) recalls that the eighteen-year-old pharaoh was able to shoot arrows through copper targets while driving a Chariot, war chariot, commenting that he had the skill and strength of Montu. The latter's grandson, Amenhotep III, Amenhotep III the Magnificent (c.1388–1350 BC), called himself "Montu of the Rulers" in spite of his own peaceful reign. In Kadesh inscriptions, the narrative of the Battle of Kadesh (c. 1274 BC), Ramesses II, Ramesses II the Great — who proudly called himself "Montu of the Upper and Lower Egypt, Two Lands" — was said to have seen the enemy and "raged at them like Montu, Lord of Thebes".
At Armant, Egypt, Armant, the ancient Iuni, there was an impressive Temple of Montu at least since the 11th Dynasty, which may have been native of Armant. King Mentuhotep II is its first known builder, but the original complex was enlarged and embellished during the 12th Dynasty, the less well-known Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt, 13th Dynasty (c. 1803–1649 BC), and later in the New Kingdom (especially under King Thutmose III). Ramesses II (1279–1213 BC) and his son Merneptah (1213–1203 BC) of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt, 19th Dynasty added colossi and statues. It was dismantled, except for a Pylon (architecture), pylon, in the Late Period (7th/4th century BC) — but a new temple was begun by King Nectanebo II (360–342 BC), the last native pharaoh of Egypt, and continued by the Ptolemaic dynasty, Ptolemies. In the 1st century BC, Cleopatra, Cleopatra VII (51–30 BC) built a mammisi and a sacred lake there in honour of her son, the very young Caesarion, Ptolemy XV Caesarion. The building remained visible until 1861, when it was demolished to reuse its material in the construction of a sugar factory; however, etchings, prints and previous studies (for example the Napoleonic ''Description de l'Égypte'') show its appearance. Only the remains of the pylon of Thutmose III are still visible — in addition to the ruins of two entrances, one of which was built under the 2nd century AD Roman emperor/Pharaoh Antoninus Pius. In the large Armant complex, moreover, there was the Bucheum, necropolis of the Buchis sacred bulls. The first burial of a Buchis in this special necropolis dates back to the reign of Nectanebo II (c. 340 BC), while the final one took place at the time of the Emperor/Pharaoh Diocletian (c. 300 AD).
File:Menthu in Medamud.jpg, Relief of Menthu in Medamud
File:Montu-AF 588-IMG 7976-gradient.jpg, Statue of Montu, 664-332 BCE.
File:El-Tod 16.jpg, Relief on the back wall of the Ptolemaic Pronaos of the Month Temple of el-Tod
File:Stele CG 20702 Lange.png, A coarse Stele, stela representing the warrior-Pharaoh Senusret III (1878–1839 BC) in the presence of Montu. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
File:Ceremonial axe of Ahmose I (both sides).jpg, Montu, as a griffin, on a ceremonial ax representing the warrior-Pharaoh Ahmose I (c. 1549–1524 BC) trampling an enemy.
File:Neferhotep I Konosso.png, Drawing of a petroglyph in Konosso with the goddess Satis (goddess), Satis, the Phallus, ithyphallic god Min (god), Min, Montu and the cartouche of King Neferhotep I (c. 1747–1736 BC).
File:P1060225 Louvre linteau temple de Montou à Tôd rwk.JPG, Fragmentary lintel from the Temple of Montu in El-Tod, mentioning Montu, King Mentuhotep II and the goddess Satis. Louvre, Paris.
File:Ruins of Erment, ancient Hermontis, Egypt. Coloured lithogra Wellcome V0049357.jpg, Ruins of the Temple of Montu in Armant, published in The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia — after a watercolour by David Roberts (painter), David Roberts (1849).
File:Temple of El-Madamud 1 P1030654.jpg, Ruins of the Temple of Montu (Medamud), Temple of Montu in Medamud.
Name
Montu's name, shown in Egyptian hieroglyphs to the right, is technically transcribed as ''mntw'' (meaning "Nomad"). Because of the difficulty in transcribing Egyptian vowels, it is often realized as Mont, Monthu, Montju, Ment or Menthu.Role and characteristics
A very ancient god, Montu was originally a manifestation of the scorching effect of Ra, the sun – and as such often appeared under the epithet Montu-Ra. The destructiveness of this characteristic led to him gaining characteristics of a warrior, and eventually becoming a widely revered war-god. The Egyptians thought that Montu would attack the enemies of Maat (that is, of the truth, of the cosmic order) while inspiring, at the same time, glorious warlike exploits.Geraldine Pinch, Pinch, Geraldine. ''Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt''. Oxford University Press, 2004. . p. 165. It is possible that Montu-Ra and Atum, Atum-Ra symbolized the two kingships, respectively, of Upper and Lower Egypt.Pinch 2004, p. 166. When linked with Horus, Montu's epithet was "Horus of the Strong Arm". Because of the association of raging bulls with strength and war, the Egyptians also believed that Montu manifested himself as a white, black-snouted bull named Buchis (hellenization of the original Bakha: a living bull revered in Armant, Egypt, Armant) — to the point that, in the Late Period of ancient Egypt, Late Period (7th-4th centuries BC), Montu was depicted with a bull's head too. This special sacred bull had dozens of servants and wore precious crowns and bibs.
In Art of ancient Egypt, Egyptian art, Montu was depicted as a falcon-headed or bull-headed man, with his head surmounted by the solar disk (because of his conceptual link with Ra) with either a double or singular uraeus, and two feathers. The falcon was a symbol of the sky and the bull was a symbol of strength and war. He could also wield various weapons, such as a Khopesh, curved sword, a spear, bow and arrows, or knives: such military iconography was widespread in the New Kingdom of Egypt, New Kingdom (16th-11th centuries BC).
Montu had several consorts, including the little-known Theban goddesses Tjenenyet and Iunit, and a female form of Ra, Raet-Tawy.Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003). ''The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt''. Thames & Hudson. pp. 203–4. He was also revered as one of the patrons of the city of Thebes, Egypt, Thebes and its fortresses. The sovereigns of the 11th dynasty, 11th Dynasty (c. 2134–1991 BC) chose Montu as a protective and dynastic deity, inserting references to him in their own names. For example, four pharaohs of the 11th Dynasty were called ''Mentuhotep'', which means "Montu (Mentu) is satisfied":
* Mentuhotep I (c. 2135 BC) — maybe a fictional figure;
* Mentuhotep II, Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (c. 2061–2010 BC);
* Mentuhotep III, Sankhkare Mentuhotep III (c. 2010–1998 BC);
* Mentuhotep IV, Nebtawyre Mentuhotep IV (c. 1998–1991 BC).
The Ancient Greece, Greeks associated Montu with their god of war Ares – although that did not prevent his assimilation to Apollo, probably due to the solar radiance that distinguished him.
Montu and the pharaohs at war
The cult of this military god enjoyed great prestige under the pharaohs of the 11th Dynasty, whose expansionism and military successes led, around 2055 BC, to the reunification of Egypt, the end of a period of chaos known today as the First Intermediate Period of Egypt, First Intermediate Period, and a new era of greatness for the country. This part of Egyptian history, known as the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, Middle Kingdom (c. 2055–1650 BC), was a period in which Montu assumed the role of supreme god — before then gradually being surpassed by the other Theban god Amun, destined to become the most important deity of the Egyptian pantheon.
From the 11th Dynasty onward, Montu was considered the symbol of the pharaohs as rulers, conquerors and winners, as well as their inspirer on the battlefield. The Egyptian armies were surmounted by the insignia of the "four Montu" (Montu of Thebes, of Armant, Egypt, Armant, of Medamud, and of El-Tod: the main cult centers of the god), all represented while trampling and piercing enemies with a spear in a classic pugnacious pose. A ceremonial battle ax, belonging to the funeral kit of Queen Ahhotep II, Great Royal Wife of the warlike pharaoh Kamose (c. 1555–1550 BC), who lived between the Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt, 17th and Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, 18th Dynasty, represents Montu as a proud winged griffin: an iconography clearly influenced by the same History of Syria, Syriac origin which inspired Minoan art.Hart 1986, p. 127.
Egypt's greatest general-kings called themselves "Mighty Bull", "Son Of Montu", "Montu Is with His Strong/Right Arm" (''Montuherkhepeshef'': which was also the given name of a List of children of Ramesses II, son of Ramesses II, of Montuherkhopshef (son of Ramesses III), one of Ramesses III and Mentuherkhepeshef (son of Ramesses IX), one of Ramesses IX). Thutmose III (c. 1479—1425 BC), "the Napoleon of Egypt", was described in ancient times as a "Valiant Montu on the Battlefield". An inscription from his son Amenhotep II (1427–1401 BC) recalls that the eighteen-year-old pharaoh was able to shoot arrows through copper targets while driving a Chariot, war chariot, commenting that he had the skill and strength of Montu. The latter's grandson, Amenhotep III, Amenhotep III the Magnificent (c.1388–1350 BC), called himself "Montu of the Rulers" in spite of his own peaceful reign. In Kadesh inscriptions, the narrative of the Battle of Kadesh (c. 1274 BC), Ramesses II, Ramesses II the Great — who proudly called himself "Montu of the Upper and Lower Egypt, Two Lands" — was said to have seen the enemy and "raged at them like Montu, Lord of Thebes".
Temples
Medamud
The Temple complex of Montu in Medamud, the ancient Medu, less than five kilometers north-east of today's Luxor, was built by the great Pharaoh Senusret III (c. 1878–1839 BC) of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt, 12th Dynasty, probably on a pre-existing sacred site of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Old Kingdom. The temple courtyard was used as a dwelling for the living Buchis bull, revered as an incarnation of Montu. The main entrance was to the north-east, while a sacred lake was probably on the west side of the sanctuary. The building consisted of two distinct adjoining sections, perhaps a temple to the north and a temple to the south (houses of the priests). It was built in raw bricks, while the innermost cella of the deity was built of carved stone. The templar complex of Medamud underwent important restorations and renovations during the New Kingdom of Egypt, New Kingdom, and in the Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemaic and Egypt (Roman province), Roman period.Armant
At Armant, Egypt, Armant, the ancient Iuni, there was an impressive Temple of Montu at least since the 11th Dynasty, which may have been native of Armant. King Mentuhotep II is its first known builder, but the original complex was enlarged and embellished during the 12th Dynasty, the less well-known Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt, 13th Dynasty (c. 1803–1649 BC), and later in the New Kingdom (especially under King Thutmose III). Ramesses II (1279–1213 BC) and his son Merneptah (1213–1203 BC) of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt, 19th Dynasty added colossi and statues. It was dismantled, except for a Pylon (architecture), pylon, in the Late Period (7th/4th century BC) — but a new temple was begun by King Nectanebo II (360–342 BC), the last native pharaoh of Egypt, and continued by the Ptolemaic dynasty, Ptolemies. In the 1st century BC, Cleopatra, Cleopatra VII (51–30 BC) built a mammisi and a sacred lake there in honour of her son, the very young Caesarion, Ptolemy XV Caesarion. The building remained visible until 1861, when it was demolished to reuse its material in the construction of a sugar factory; however, etchings, prints and previous studies (for example the Napoleonic ''Description de l'Égypte'') show its appearance. Only the remains of the pylon of Thutmose III are still visible — in addition to the ruins of two entrances, one of which was built under the 2nd century AD Roman emperor/Pharaoh Antoninus Pius. In the large Armant complex, moreover, there was the Bucheum, necropolis of the Buchis sacred bulls. The first burial of a Buchis in this special necropolis dates back to the reign of Nectanebo II (c. 340 BC), while the final one took place at the time of the Emperor/Pharaoh Diocletian (c. 300 AD).
Karnak and Uronarti
In the great Karnak Temple Complex, north of the monumental Temple of Amun, King Amenhotep III built a sacred enclosure to Montu. Another temple had been dedicated to him at the little-known fortress of Uronarti (near the Cataracts of the Nile, Second Cataract of the Nile, specifically to the south of it) during the Middle Kingdom.Gallery
References
Bibliography
* Hart, George (1986), A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, London: Routledge, . * Rachet, Guy (1994). ''Dizionario della civiltà egizia''. Rome: Gremese Editore. . * Richard H. Wilkinson, Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003), The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, Thames & Hudson, . {{Authority control Egyptian gods War gods Falcon deities Animal gods Cattle deities