The Pure Place

And in it (Food Altar) is its W'abet, each one a square of 8 cubits (on every side). Here ointment, clothing, and protective amulets are offered to provide the god with his finery. His Majesty is purified with his natron-balls and his nemset jars, so that his Ba may unite with His image. The heaven belongs to its lord and to the forms in which He appears, Ra having been equipped with his Weeya-boat at midday, while the Mesketet-boat in the evening, and the Mandjet-boat in the morning carry Khepry and Atum, on at sunrise and one at sunset. The king praises his Ka and his Ba, kills his enemies, and provides his house with bread, meat and beer.

About the W'abet

It was in this room, and the connecting Court of Food Offerings Altar, that the preliminary rites of the Festival of Raiment and the Wep Ronpet (New Year) Festival were held. The Court of the Food Offerings Altar contains a staircase that leads up to the W'abet. The W'abet is comprised of a screen wall, and a column on either side of the doorway that is decorated with elaborate floral. The screen wall and door way is designed to allow the sunlight to illuminate the ceiling, which is carved with an elaborate Nut relief (see below). Other reliefs in the W'abet include Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II and his Queen making offerings to his ancestor Ptolemy III Euergetes I and his Queen, as well as Him being worshipped by blue faced dead kings.

More on the W'abet




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