House of the Morning

Per-Duat

His majesty proceeded to the House of [Ptah], his purification was performed in the Per Duat, there were performed for him all the ceremonies that are performed for a king. Then He entered into the temple. He came in procession to the House of Ra, and entered the temple with loud acclaim, the chief lector praising the god and repelling those hostile to the king. The (Rite of the) Per Duat was performed, the sdb-vestment was fastened on, and He was purified with incense and cool water. - Piankhi Stele

About the House of the Morning

The House of the Morning, or Per-Duat, is the place where the Nisut or His Deputy in his stead purified before the Rite of the House of the Morning, the daily rite to the God of the Temple.

Reliefs show the robed and crowned Nisut being purified in the Per-Duat basically show the room as a ceremonial toilet-chamber.

A common title found only in the Old Kingdom, Supervisor of the Mysteries of the Per-Duat, is named for the person who attends to the Nisut in their daily toilet. This is known by the close association of this title to titles of Unique Friend of the Nisut (Semer-wati), Superintendent of all the adronment of the King, Director of the Wig-makers of the King, and Superintendent of the Nisut's bath-room.. Basically the per-duat in the Old Kingdom titulary context referred to the room or rooms where the privilaged courtiers assisted the Nisut in His morning toilet activities.

Every morning before the Rite, the King or His Deputy would enter the Per-Duat before entering the Sanctuary of the God. The lustrial washing was performed with water brought from the sacred poold by way of the Room of the Nile. He was fumugated with incense, and given pieces of natron to chew. He would then be dressed in his sacred vestments and proceeded to the Sanctuary to perform the Rite of the Per-Duat.

More on the Per-Duat




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