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403831

The Symbolism of the Purification Scenes of Sennefer: Ascending to Spiritual Rejuvenation

Article

Last updated: 13 Jan 2025

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the functions and symbolic meanings of three purification scenes of Sennefer, the mayor of Thebes during the reign of Amenhotep II, who owned tomb TT 96 a-b at Sheikh Abd el-Qurna cemetery. The three purification scenes were depicted in Sennefer's burial chamber. The first purification scene is located on the south wall of the burial chamber. It relates to the funerary procession, which represents chapter one of the BD. It happens after finishing the mummification and before reaching the tomb. The Second Purification Scene of Sennefer is located on the north wall and is concentrated on Sennefer and his wife. The textual evidence refers to a large celebration that took place outside Sennefer's tomb and is related to the mortuary temple of Thutmose III, Ḥnkt-ʿnḫ, in western Thebes. While it is accompanied by text that originates from spell 35 of the pyramid texts, it is also linked to another scene located on the eastern column on the northern side. The two scenes complete each other and indicate that Sennefer exits and then returns again to the tomb. The third purification scene of Sennefer is represented independently on the north side of pillar 3 (the west pillar). It has a specific symbolic motif that signifies renewal after death. Through the artistic elements and textual evidence, the author distinguishes between the actual purification ritual and the supreme one that will happen in the afterlife. Moreover, it seems clear that the three scenes complete each other; they represent the importance of purification for Sennefer to be renewed in the afterlife.

DOI

10.21608/jarch.2025.403831

Keywords

Sennefer, Purification, necropolis, The Beautiful Feast of the Valley, Horizon, Rejuvenation

Authors

First Name

Ola

Last Name

Elaboudy

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University

Email

ola.elaboudy@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

0000-0001-6370-058X

Volume

18

Article Issue

28

Related Issue

52920

Issue Date

2025-01-01

Receive Date

2025-01-08

Publish Date

2025-01-01

Page Start

21

Page End

46

Print ISSN

1110-5801

Online ISSN

2682-4884

Link

https://jarch.journals.ekb.eg/article_403831.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=403831

Order

403,831

Type

المقالة الأصلية

Type Code

1,305

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

مجلة کلية الآثار . جامعة القاهرة

Publication Link

https://jarch.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

The Symbolism of the Purification Scenes of Sennefer: Ascending to Spiritual Rejuvenation

Details

Type

Article

Created At

13 Jan 2025