Benben

Benben (also benbenti Egyptian for " by the Benben stone " ) is the name of the pyramidal - divine stone of Heliopolis, the capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian Gaus of the intact scepter, 12 km northeast of Cairo. He represents the primordial mound, walked on the Atum for the first time country.

The Benben Stone is therefore initially closely associated with the gods Sokar and Atum who emerged from the primeval waters of Nun. In their temples were found corresponding Benben stones. The obelisk tip and the tip of a pyramid ( Pyramidion ) are also called Benben.

For the first time the Benben in the context of the obelisk ( " tech " ) is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts. A connection to the sun god Ra at Heliopolis can not be found for the early phase of the Benben stone cult, as inscriptions and archaeological remains missing. The compounds previously adopted the Benben Stone as a "template " to the buildings in the sun sanctuaries were based on " possible interpretations " and anachronisms, which is why these assumptions could not be confirmed.

The Benben was kept later in the innermost sanctuary of the "House of Re". The same name was also the Holy of Holies in the temple of Aten at Tell el- Amarna ( Akhetaten ).