sphinx 387soul houses They were elaborate mortuary miniatures
placed in the tombs of the Middle Kingdom Period
(2040–1640 B.C.E.). Also called the house of the KA,these
miniatures were models of Egyptian residences, some
two-storied with double staircases. Made of pottery and
sometimes highly detailed, the soul houses were placed
in the forecourts of tombs as offerings to the kasof the
deceased, the astral companions. They served as the ka’s
residence in death.
Souls of Nekhen The title given to the predynastic
rulers of HIERAKONPOLIS, who were believed to have
attained celestial status beyond the grave, the Souls of
Nekhen were guardians of Upper Egypt, as their counter-
parts, the SOULS OF PE, served as patrons of Lower Egypt
in BUTO. The Souls of Nekhen were thought to accom-
pany the PHARAOHduring certain commemorative cere-
monies, such as the HEB-SED,and were prominent at
coronations, when priests donned special garb and stood
as representatives of these archaic rulers.
The CROWNSof Egypt could not be presented to a
pharaoh without permission by the Souls of Nekhen and
Pe. MORTUARY RITUALS were also conducted on their
behalf and they had their own ritual centers in the capi-
tal. One such soul was depicted on a statue of AMEN-
HOTEP III(r. 1391–1353 B.C.E.), dressed as an Egyptian
wolf or wild DOG. The Souls of Nekhen and the Souls of
Pe were mentioned in the PALERMO STONE.
Souls of Pe The title of the predynastic rulers of Pe or
BUTO, a site south of TANIS, in the Delta, believed to have
become celestial beings in the afterlife, they were the
guardians of Lower Egypt, as the SOULS OF NEKHENpro-
tected Upper Egypt. The Souls of Pe were thought to
greet each new PHARAOHduring coronation rituals and
were called upon to guard the land in each new reign.
MORTUARY RITUALSwere conducted on their behalf, and
the Souls of Pe had their own cultic shrines in the capi-
tals of Egypt. They were mentioned in the PALERMO
STONEand were always depicted with the heads of HAWKS.
speos It was the Greek word for ancient Egyptian
shrines dedicated to particular deities.
Speos Anubis This was a shrine erected at DEIR EL-
BAHRIon the western shore of THEBESto honor the deity
of the dead. This mortuary god received daily offerings at
the speos.
Speos Artemidos This was the Greek name for the
rock chapel dedicated to the goddess PAKHETor Pakht at
BENI HASAN. The chapel was erected by HATSHEPSUT(r.
1473–1458 B.C.E.) and TUTHMOSIS III (r. 1479–1425
B.C.E.) and refurbished by SETI I(r. 1306–1290 B.C.E.),
who inserted his own CARTOUCHEinto the decorations.
The speoshad a portico with four pillars cut into the
rock, along with narrow chambers and a deeper sanctu-
ary. The shrine appears to have been erected on the site of
a previous structure of the goddess’s cult. The Greeks
associated Pakhet with their own Artemis, hence the
name. The site is now called the Stable of Antar, named
after a warrior poet of modern Islam.Speos of Hathor This was the title of a shrine erected
at DEIR EL-BAHRI, on the western shore of the Nile in
THEBES. The goddess HATHORwas honored at this shrine,
and only royal princesses could serve as priestesses in
ceremonies. Offerings made to Hathor during rituals
included miniature cows, platters of blue and white
faience, and strings of faience scarabs. Flowers and fruit
were also dedicated to Hathor in elaborate services.sphinx It was the form of a recumbent lion with the
head of a royal personage, appearing in Egypt in the Old
Kingdom (2575–2134 B.C.E.). Originally called hu, or
“the hewn object,” the sphinx became Hun-Harmakhu,
“the hewn Harmachis (Horemakhet).” This divine being
was also addressed as “Horus on the Horizon” and as
Sheshep-ankh, “the living image” of the god Atum. Mod-
ern Egyptians herald the sphinx as Abu Hol, “the Father
of Terror.”
The Great Sphinx, on the GIZA plateau, measures
approximately 70 feet from base to crown and bears the
face of KHAFRE(r. 2520–2494 B.C.E.). Measuring some
150 feet in length, the Great Sphinx is a crouching lion
with outstretched paws and a human head, clad in the
nemes,the striped head covering reserved for pharaohs in
the early eras. The actual stone of the figure dates to
5000–7000 years ago geologically, according to some sci-
entists, and may have been an original rock formation
carved to resemble the sphinx form. The Great Sphinx
was also supposed to hold the repository of ancient Egyp-
tian wisdom, including the lost Book of THOTH. Modern
repairs and excavations have revealed no such treasures.
The INVENTORY STELA, now in the Egyptian Museum
in Cairo, describes the construction of the Great Sphinx.
Another stela, erected between the paws of the sphinx by
TUTHMOSIS IV(r. 1401–1391 B.C.E.), gives an account of
his act of clearing the area of sand and of restoring the
sphinx itself. The stela, 11 feet, 10 inches tall and seven
feet, two inches wide, was placed at the site to commem-
orate Tuthmosis IV’s dream. He was on a hunting expedi-
tion on the plateau as a prince and rested beside the
sphinx. To his amazement, he heard the figure complain
about its state of disrepair. Tuthmosis IV was promised
the throne of Egypt if he cleared away the sand and rub-
ble, even though he was not the heir at the time. He ful-
filled the command of the sphinx and became pharaoh.