Sacred Circles' Coven

Morning Ritual in the Temple

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The Temple was the link between the macrocosm, that is, the outside world, and the microcosm, man. It was the stage upon which contact was made between the neter (the gods/desses) and the king, who represented the population. As such, it was the generator and maintenance of divine energy for the benefit of all who took part in its rituals. It was, finally, the earthly residence of the neter, where his/her energy could be shared by one and all.

Life in the Temple essentially concerned multiple and repetitive services to the deity. There were three main rituals performed daily, the most important being the very first one performed at sun-rise. The second were performed at midday and the last at sun-down. It is the Morning Ritual that will be discussed here, for it is the highlight of the Temple and served to set the mood for the rest of the day.

Purity was of utmost importance. Everyone and everything that was to come in contact with the deity were obliged to be purified. This was a special ceremony that required the washing of the prson or object in natron and water from the Sacred Lake, which existed in every Temple compound. Incense and water for libations also played an important part in purification rituals. Offerings were prepared at the same time: these consited of food, drink and flowers as well as other types of offerings according to the nature and personality of the deity being honored. Before dawn, a procession of priests carrying the offerings entered the Temple, surrounded by others carrying incense and torches of light. Priestesses chanted and played instruments, singing songs of praise while a priest read texts of prayers referring to that deity. All this is taking place in the anteroom of the naos, outside the inner sanctum of the deity, for only the Pharaoh or his personal High Priest were allowed in the direct presence of the deity.

Immediately after the initial offering presentations, the High Priest entered the sanctuary by breaking the seal placed on the doors the day before and began the official ceremony of "awakening the god/dess," accompanied by singing and chanting. During this time the sun is arriving on its barque (boat) across the sky; at a specific moment when the barque reaches the horizon, the face of the god/dess is unveiled, symbolizing the rebirth of the sun as incarnated in the cult statue. This ceremony is called the god/dess's "union with the sun disk." The deity was imbued with life and energy at the very moment of its contact with the rays of the sun at dawn.

The statue was then washed, annointed with oils, perfumed and his/her face was made up as realistically as was possible. Yesterday's clothing was discarded and the deity was dressed in purified clothing in four colors: blue was for hiding the god/dess's face, white was for safeguarding against harm, green gave bodily health and red symbolized protection. During the dressing ceremony, priesteses continued their songs, singing and dancing to the music of sistrums and flutes.

The final revelation of the deity ended by the High Priest's annointing of the deity's forehead with fragrant oil. On special days, especially the deity's feast day, the statue was carried hidden in its barque in a procession throughout the town, permitting the common people to offer their prayers and gifts. After returning to the Temple, the statue was place in a niche near the doors to allow anyone working in the Temple tto approach and offer gifts of food and drink, etc. then the statue was returned to its sanctuary. At all other times the statue of the deity remained in its hidden place in the Temple's holy sancuary. At the end of the Morning Ritual, the doors were closed and sealed by the High Priest, who then swept away his footprints so that no trace of any human presence remained. The essential offerings of food and drink were left for a short while before the sanctuary door so that they may be "absorbed" by the deity, then they were taken away to be offered to the lesser gods and goddesses who shared the temple.

Sources:

"Dieux et Hommes en Egypte (Gods and Men in Egypt), 3000 B.C.-345 A.D." by F. Dunand and C. Zivie-Coche
http://www.philae.nu/ahket/dailyritual.html
http://www.philae.nu/PerAnkh/behave.html

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