File:Stela of Princess Isis, daughter of King Ramesses VI (8609458954).jpg

Stela of Isis, daughter of Ramesses VI (Acc. 1781)

Limestone stela with a curved top and back-to-back scenes. On the left, princess Isis offers to Osiris. On the right, she offers to Re-Horakhty, a form of the sun-god. Isis was a daughter of king Ramesses VI and queen Nub-Khesdeb. Isis was a priestess of Amun and a divine adoratrice.

The central column of hieroglyphs includes the names of her father, king Ramesses VI. The columns within the scenes identify the princess and the gods, and also name her mother and father.

64.0 x 93.5 cm 20th Dynasty Koptos (Qift), Upper Egypt Acquisition: Haworth, Mr Jesse (Donation, 1893-1894)

Bibliography

W. M. Flinders Petrie, "Koptos." (Bernard Quaritch, London, 1896)

Pg. 16 "The upper part of a limestone stele of Isis, daughter of Ramessu VI (XIX, 2), was found at the back of the Ptolemaic temple, some-way east of the "Usertesen slab." It is important historically as shewing the name of the wife of Ramessu VI, Nub-khesdeb, "gold and lazuli," which as not been found before. In the middle is a dedication to "The Osiris, the king, lord of both lands (Maat-neb-ra, mery-Amen) son of the sun (Ramessu, Amen-her-khepshef, neter heq An) father of the divine wife of Amen (the adorer of the god, Isis)." On the right Iris offers to "Osiris ... lord of the sacred land, great god, chief of Agert." She is "making a libation to Osiris the lord of eternity; mayest thou grant me to receive food which is offered on thy tables, consisting of all good and pure things, from the Osiris the divine wife of Amen, the royal daughter, the lady of both lands (the adorer of the god, Isis) makheru." Behind her is the name of "Her father, the king, lord of both lands (Maat-neb-ra, mery-Amen) son of the sun (Ramessu...)" On the left side of the tablet the princess Isis offers to "Ra Har-akhti by whose beams the earth is enlightened, great god, prince of eternity." She says, "I play the sistrum before thy fair face, gold is in front of thee, grant that I may see the early dawn." Said by the Osiris the hereditary princess, great of favours, the divine wife of Amen, the royal daughter (the adorer of the god, Isis)." Her mother is "the great wife of the king, who he loves, lady of both lands (Nub-khesdeb) makheru." (At Manchester.)"

PL. XIX, 2

Gosselin, L. 2007. Les Divines Epouses d'Amon dans l'Egypte de la XIXe a la XXIe dynastie. Etudes et Memoires d'Egyptologie, no. 6 (Paris), pp. 201-203

Queens of Egypt, p. 329 [159]

Entertaining the Gods

Gods were entertained with music. Female musicians performed as part of daily temple rituals. The spirit of a god was also encouraged to enter their statue by the sound of a ritual rattle, called a 'sistrum' and cymbals.

Objects in foreground:

Centre:

Sistrum (Acc. 10975)

Bronze (copper alloy) handle of a musical rattle, called a 'sistrum', which was used in religious services. The shaft of the handle is incised with a feather pattern. The top of the handle depicts the goddess Hathor.

On top of the handle, there would have been a loop of bronze with thin pieces of bronze running across it, which would make a soothing noise when shaken.

The column of hieroglyphs on the shaft reads, 'May Bastet give life to Kha-em-Khonsu, son of Pa-khered-en-Ptah.'

23.3 x 6.5 Late Period Acquisition: Robinow, Mr. Max E. (Donation, January 1959)

Left:

Sistrum (Acc. 9650)

Handle of a sistrum (musical rattle), in pale faience, with the head of the goddess Hathor head. Identical on both sides. The hieroglyphs on the front: 'The good god, lord of the two lands...'.

8.9 x 7.9 Late Period Acquisition: Spiedelberg, George (Donation, 1938)

Front:

Cymbals (Acc. 7448)

Bronze (copper alloy) cymbals connected to tongs, so that they could be squeezed together with one hand to make music.

20.8 x 4.5 cm Roman Egypt Qaw el-Kebir, Upper Egypt Acquisition: British School of Archaeology in Egypt (Donation, 1923-1924)

Right:

Cup (Acc. 6736)

Description Faience cup with tapering sides and a flat base. Inscribed on one side, for Nesi-khonsu, wife of Pinedjem II. One of at least 70 such vessels from her tomb, DB320, the royal mummy cache discovered in 1881.

6.75 x 6.1 cm 21st Dynasty, Third Intermediate Thebes: Deir el-Bahri, Upper Egypt Collector: Macgregor