Two colossal statues of Ramses 11 sit firmly on the throne of two lands at the entrance into Luxor Temple, Ramses head is erect and proud with eyes that hold a calm and steady gaze into the future, on each side of his leg his beloved Royal Wife Queen Nefertari is sensuous and elegant; she displays her divine and naked beauty wearing only a simple pair of shoes, whilst her left hand gently embraces his leg. Standing between his legs a small image of his eldest daughter Merit Amon is also portrayed, who also became his wife; the figure of Merit Amun is badly damaged and barely recognizable. Like her mother she was greatly loved by Ramses and was known as ‘The one who fills the forecourt with the scent of her fragrance' and 'the beloved of the Lord of The Two Lands', On the sides of this throne the god Hapi- Meht of Upper Egypt and his twin Hapi- Reset of Lower Egypt face each other, both of them hold the plant of their region, a lotus and papyrus that they pull tightly, creating a knot that symbolizes the union of upper and lower Egypt. The knot symbolically gathers around a windpipe and at their feet are the lungs of Egypt. At the base of the throne, a row of Nubian and Asian men taken in battle are portrayed with their arms tied behind their backs, their necks are bound leashing them together in slavery this symbolized the Ramses will bring all nations under the rule of Egypt.
If you go across the River Nile onto the Westbank the first piece of History you will see are the Colossi of Memnon, two colossi of Amenophis 111 also sat on the Throne of Two Lands and here you will see the same relief of the Gods of Upper and Lower Egypt, Hapi, on the sides of the Colossi of Memnon.
The figures embracing the Legs each side of Amenophis 111 are his wife Tiye and his mother Mutemwiya
No comments:
Post a Comment