Min (god)

Min is at first only sporadically occupied in the Early Dynastic period as ancient Egyptian creation god. In the Old Kingdom Min appeared as a local deity in Koptos; later in Akhmim as " lord of Ipu, the strong Horus". In the course of Egyptian history, he was connected with the characters of procreation and fertility. From the Greeks, he was equated with their shepherd god Pan.

Background

In Egyptian mythology, the individual properties of the min were transferred to several other deities. In the Middle Kingdom the amalgamation with Amun -Re Amun -Re Kamutef ( " Amun -Re, bull of his mother " ) is evidence for the first time. In the second Intermediate Period ( 1648-1550 BC ) special follow Min- Amun, Amun -Min ( "Min -Amun / Amun -Min, bull of his mother " ) and Min - Kamutef ( " Min, Bull of his Mother " ). With the beginning of the 18th dynasty (1550 BC) merges Amun -Re Kamutef to the new single form Kamutef ( " bull of his mother "). Finally comes the latest in the 21st Dynasty Amenemope ( " Amun of Karnak " ) as a new deity statue added, derived from Kamutef.

Importance

Originally min the patron of caravan routes to the Red Sea and " miners of precious stones in the ostägyptischen deserts", parallel to Seth in the oases of the western Egyptian desert. He is equated as a fertility god and " bull of the Ennead " with the symbol of the moon is reborn each morning in the desert ostägyptischen and renews itself every month.

As an animal is Min of "white bull Min Kamutef " in the white appearance of the relationship is shown to the moon. The meaning of " bull of his mother " describes his conception of a goddess, which occupies the rank of his mother and wife. Mythological Min therefore can also produce as the son and husband himself and clearly shows the myth schema of the royal inheritance.

In the " world chamber " from the sun temple of Niuserre and in Sneferu Temple Min is seen in connection to the goddess Seshat on fragments whose activities were shown in the context of Sedfestes. From a later period a legend has been handed down, according Min makes the procreation of Horus instead of the dead Osiris.

Representation

Min is represented in the Middle Kingdom as dignified human-like appearance with a high crown of two feathers. His body is slim and well-proportioned and remains uncovered substantially. The left arm is directed into the distance, while his right rests at the root of the erect penis.

From the beginning of the Greco-Roman period, he is seen as a lion- headed fertility god with sun disk on his head and raised arms with Scourge.

Assignments

In the New Kingdom Min was the god of the first month of Peret period.

In the Greco-Roman period Min went through as Chronokrat the assignments of 17 Peret II to 19 Schemu II, which resulted from the shift of the seasons in the Egyptian calendar. In Edfu he was fused with the deities Chenticheti and Sokar to the deity Min- Chenticheti - Sokar.